You read that right: my 25-year-old step-daughter is a luddite, a social media holdout of the first order. Even after buying her a new laptop with a built-in web cam for Christmas, I think we've had a grand total of three Skype calls this year. Quite simply, she just doesn't want to be online. Ever.
How does this happen in a 25-year-old? Everywhere I look, I see young folks with their noses buried in their smartphones, blogging about their latest deep thought or tweeting a smart remark about that smelly guy on the bus. I've grown rather fond of this running commentary - indeed, it's almost if not more entertaining than the latest fare on TV these days.
Now I admit that my online activity is hardly at the level worthy of my being considered any kind of influencer. I love my Facebook friends and share important news with them such as the blooming of my winter-hardy cactus, the state of our home renovation project, and the odd photo of a vacation (posted after the fact, of course - no sense telling any prowling thieves that I'm out of town!).
So I'm not really one to talk. As I get more deeply involved in planning next year's CPRS National Conference - "Conversations2013" - I will be upping my online presence of necessity. But I'm not talking about raising my Klout score. I'm talking about using today's tools to simply stay in touch with friends and family.
Thus my frustration with my daughter. You see, I've become accustomed to checking Facebook every day, quickly scanning my news feed to find out what's going on. I am grateful for my friends and family - both near and far - posting news, status updates, and the occasional photograph reminding me of what they look like. I feel more connected to my vast circle of friends and relations by virtue of knowing what is happening in their lives. It's easy for them: post a few words and go on with their lives.
So why does my daughter resist? What inoculation did she get as a kid that has made her immune to the siren call of social media? She has a smartphone, but barely uses it. Texting seems to be the only way to reach her.
Am I alone in this? Are there other twenty-somethings out there who have stayed out of the pool? Or did I just get lucky??
