I believe there are many positives of using social media in the COVID-19 era.

Certainly, there are negatives to using social media in this era. Here are some that come to mind:

  • Getting caught up in the blow-by-blow reports on the number of positive cases and deaths.
  • Finding yourself annoyed when people post about the degree of responsiveness of local, state, and national authorities.
  • Social media threads with people arguing about the projected impact of the virus.
  • Inaccurate information about how to keep yourself and others from getting the virus.

However, I’ve concluded that the positives of using social media outweigh the negatives. Here are just a few examples of why.

 

Positive Aspects of Using Social Media in the COVID-19 Era

  • If you want to be in the loop 24/7 on news items of importance to you, sites like Twitter are perfect. For example, use the search phrase “COVID-19 update” to get country-by-country updates.
  • You can access free links to many kinds of entertainment from the safety of your home. Examples include broadcasts and live streams of symphonies, virtual tours of museums, and links to a wide range of child-centric activities. You can also check your local library website to see what kind of online resources are available.
  • You can easily keep abreast of a wide range of useful information, such as drive-up testing locations.
  • Use social media to offer uplifting messages. I recently saw and then re-posted, this one on Facebook: “Make sure you stock up on compassion.”
  • There are also lots of tips for creative ways to support the local economy. An example is generously tipping delivery staff who are staying on the front lines so the rest of us can stay home.
  • Social media is a great way to let folks know that you can provide food and other assistance to families in need. Considering getting restaurant cards online that you can send to others.
  • Staying in touch with loved ones is super easy via all the social media sites using their direct messaging features. You might use this mechanism to ask your friends and connections how you can help them.
  • Use social media to contribute to fundraisers to help address the challenges caused by the virus. For example, Facebook has created a fundraiser in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). This fundraiser supports their global efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a link to contribute https://www.facebook.com/donate/1564752357011737/10111653413088551/

 

How About You?

Have you been overwhelmed by the negativity in your social media news feeds? Have you taken more breaks from social media as a result? Or have you been relying on it to keep you up-to-date or find some uplifting stories? What has been your overall experience with social media in recent weeks?

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 45 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, job seekers, and more – ranging from entrepreneurs to people in large corporations. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.