I spend most of my social media time on Facebook and over the many years I just find it so fascinating the way people interact with each other. I wrote about this a long time ago, and it just continues to become more interesting. I learn so much about myself from watching and participating in discussions.
With the current trend in Facebook moving toward the new Meta thingy, it makes me wonder what the futue of Facebook will look like.
Facebook has been great for:
- Finding out about things going on in the profession
- Watching massage therapists excel and suceed
- Watching massage therapists create and try new things
- Learning about the counter cultures in the profession – the skeptics and the energy workers/healers
Not so great when conflict arises.
Massage therapists seem to assume that Facebook groups/posts should be supporting, loving, caring as that what the profession is about. The claim that posts are snarky, harsh and hurtful and really shows you are taking things personally. You don’t know the other person behind the post at that exact moment. Are they just rushing because they have a client coming or are busy? Facebook discussions usually move so quickly, there isn’t much time for reflection or questioning. We don’t see people’s faces and hear their voices. So much is lost and so much is assumed. There isn’t time to ask “What did you mean by that” or “Did you mean me in that comment”.
What you can learn about yourself on Facebook
The biggest thing I have learned on Facebook is to not take things personally. In a way though it has made me a less sensitive person which is neither good or bad…it just is. People who read posts, put their own beliefs and thoughts into posts. One person can see it as being ‘toxic’ and others just see it as a normal post to learn from or scroll on by.
You reactions to posts on Facebook tell you much about yourself. What groups you join and participate also tell a lot. Recently, a discussion that went sideways with many comments about the harshness of moderators and posts led to a post recommending a Facebook Humor Group where MT’s make fun of client interactions. How do people see that as positive or acceptable?
What does a Safe place look like on Facebook?
There is no such thing. Facebook is not and never will be a totally SAFE place because there are so many people, bots and hackers. While you may think there is some safety, you never know when a post will be used against you in a court of law!
Nothing on Facebook is Private either, no matter what settings you have.
Back to in-person/Zoom?
What if we starting moving to face to face conversations with things like Zoom and when the pandemic allows – face to face in person meetings like with www.meetup.com or creating local chapters of massage therapists like we have here in WA State – www.wamassagenetwork.com – one of my local website projects that needs work! (Some have been shut down due to COVID but I hope they get back and hmmmm….maybe some new ones start?)
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