I think about all of the different social networks I am a part of and realize how blessed I am to be a part of so many great communities. I love interacting with my community online via forums (DOC – Documentary Organization of Canada – has a good one that is such a great tool for our industry), Facebook (I have my own page, project pages, a corporate page and participate in a few public and private groups), Linked In (I am still trying to figure out how to get the most of this one – any tips you can offer are more than welcome), Twitter (I still have not figured out how to maximize the hash tags), Instagram (my 14 year old recently offered a few helpful tips), Pinterest (I have a few ideas for boards but don’t have a lot of free time these days), and this blog. Do people even care what I have to say? When people respond to my posts, I have to admit that it makes me feel good. I get a good feeling inside when I receive a notification that someone has accepted one of my requests or responded to one of my posts. I would love to spend even more time on social media but I have to work and attend to my studies. Social media can be such a time sucker (not to mention, addicting…)
In Chapter 5 of Understanding Social Networks, “The Psychological Foundations of Social Networks”, Kadushin writes about the three motivations to network. The first being the need to feel safe, effectance (the motivation to reach out beyond your comfort zone), and status or rank seeking. I didn’t set out to seek status but now that I have been spending more time on social media for this course, I am suddenly paying attention again to the number of friends, followers, posts, retweets, likes – and admittedly, my insecurities come out.
When I get annoyed with people and some of what I think are silly posts, I have to remind myself that social media is not reality – people hold back some things and choose to reveal others. It is not a full picture. And – why do people choose to discuss their divorce or personal conflicts in this public forum? And, again with my insecurities creeping out, what do people think about my online presence? How am I projecting myself? Should I be holding back more?? I will have to ask my best friend for some honest feedback….
About Ava K
Ava Karvonen is multi-platform producer and the founder of Edmonton’s Reel Girls Media. She has produced more than 100 hours of content for the global market including TV, web and mobile. Her work has seen more than 90 worldwide screenings and been internationally recognized with more than 40 awards (including Best Original Cross-Platform Content at the Alliance for Children and TV Awards, the CFTPA Award for Best Convergent New Media, a Japan Prize and the Ojai California Festival Theme Award: “Enriching the Human Spirit Through Film”).
She recently produced the feature length documentary, Finding Bobbi (After 50 years in the wrong body, Bobbi tells her story while preparing to step on stage for the first time as a woman) and directed/produced audio and video stories for the new Royal Alberta Museum. Her credits include creating and producing four series, ten one-hour documentaries, more than 100 webisodes and podcasts, audio & video for the new Royal Alberta Museum, and an online companion to an animated TV series where users can create their own comics and stories. In addition to producing, Ava also writes and directs. She directed seasons 1 & 2 of Chaos and Courage for APTN; was one of the directors on the CBC series Keeping Canada Alive; wrote and directed The Lie Detective; directed and produced Homefront (a story that followed five soldiers and their families during a deployment to Afghanistan); directed Seeds of Change for Panacea Entertainment (an hour long documentary that tells the story of a friendship between two scientists and how they worked together to help restore the health of China’s Yangtze River).
Ava believes in giving back to her community. Ava has been teaching credit and non-credit courses for NAIT, FAVA, MacEwan, Raindance; served on juries in Canada and abroad; and has served on the advisory committees of Salute to Excellence for the City of Edmonton, the Aids Network Black and White Affair, CFTPA, NextMedia, and NAIT. She has also helped develop industry policy while serving for the past 20 plus years on the boards of the Edmonton Arts Council, AMPIA, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), and DOC AB. She is the chair of WIFTA (Women in Film and Television Alberta) and sits on the advisory committee of the Edmonton Screen Industries Office.
Ava Karvonen 
WOW- post. I appreciate every word what you said about your feelings about social media. I also have the same feeling inside when I receive a notification that someone responded to one of my posts.
Dr. Milberry discussed in last class that it is peoples’ choice whether they will share their too personal stuff in social media or not. Personally, even I feel embarrass to read other’s personal stuff.
Do not worry about it Ava. As Bill McLaughlin pointed out shortly before his passing, “Everyone writes, nobody reads.” While it is a rule of thumb it tends to be true. People will post questions which even a preliminary scan of documentation or manuals would give them the answer to. Many people wish to be fed like baby birds.
People will write about things which have hit them hard in the heart because they need somewhere to vent and after having said the same things twenty times to each of their friends while attempting to get a handle on what has happening to them social media seems like a viable outlet for their emotions, confusion and lashing out. In a past age they might have shared these feelings with a diary or in letters to far away confidants. There is a certain catharsis which can be gained from writing things out. I am not sure the same holds true for the keyboard.
So if you think you might be overexposing yourself to the world, take some comfort from the realization most of it will only ever be read by a few friends.
D
Existential wonderings. Your posts are clear and chatty and informed. They are thoughtful and I read every post you write.
Enjoying your blog!