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If you’re squeamish about social media or too shy to chat it up online, you may feel a little left out on social media platforms. There was an interesting post on another blogger’s site here recently about cliques titled: Do Cliques Still Exist?
I never gave it a thought until I ran across this article. First thought, WOW! I also never knew there were really “cliques” per se, on social media. Whenever I thought of cliques it usually gave me a visual of high school and the movie “Mean Girls.” Why should it be different online?
Cliques will always exist—in real life and online. There will always be that individual or group you like more than another or like spending time with more (kinda like some parents that don’t have a favorite child, but deep down…just saying). A few neighbors you hang with versus the one or two across the street or down the road you don’t, the co-workers you take breaks with versus the few that don’t break. Lots of married couples hang with other married couples. Guess what? That’s a clique!
Same goes for bloggers, friends and followers on social media, you’re more social with some than you are with the rest…obvi. It would be impossible to personally socialize with all the hundreds and thousands of bloggers, friends and followers online on a regular (though we do our best to keep up).
It may leave you wondering, “How can I compete with all these cliques?” Well, you know the saying, “If you can’t beat ’em…join ’em!” For those of you that feel left out of certain cliques/circles or you feel criticized, don’t look at cliques as necessarily evil, but more so as a necessary evil if you plan to survive online. You are online because at some point you want exposure, so don’t take it too personal. Social media is not always fluffy with puppy dogs, rainbows and kittens just like the real world is not. It can bite, but will you bite back is the question?
It can devour you whole if you stay in the mind set that people don’t like you, or are not responding to your content, forcing you to feel even more shunned. I think the important thing when you feel that way is to ask yourself why you are online in the first place. Is it for business or personal reasons? This will help you adjust your attitude towards your true goal.
Maintain a level head and your grace because sometimes there are certain people who do take pleasure in the mental and emotional torture of others—even more, the others whose skin they know they can get under, making you lose your religion as the older folk used to say when I was growing up.
Bite the bullet and not always your tongue. Don’t be a doormat for anyone. Don’t allow anyone to cause you to recoil. You have a voice, use it to reign in the positive people you want in your circle. Tweet, blog and chat to your heart’s content!
Do you feel left out on social media?
jorobinson176 said:
Good advice. I’ve never thought of it this way before, but we all do have a little cliques. We just have to stay away from the nasties that really do lurk around and about.
intheAMDay said:
Thank you. Yes, cliques and circles are life’s norm. And if we get with the nasties, we have to decide if we will accept them for who they are like so many of us do when we stick by that nasty friend. We know how they are and we either accept them for who they are or walk away. Thanks for commenting!
Rigney said:
Another great post! I’m liking this lunch table…think I’ll look for an empty seat here more often.
😉
I love this thought process…My sister-in-law is a fashion blogger and I have watched her rise from 3 followers to over 700 (and counting!) It has been a fascinating sociological experience. She and I giggle about it all the time and we have promised one another to always be nice to anyone who spends time on our blogs. She has stayed true to that, making her one of the more popular, pretty girls in the cafeteria of the internet. I have been kind to everyone as well (and grateful to ANYONE who stops by my blog!) I’m no where near the popular, pretty girls, and I kind of like it that way. Makes me feel like Ally Sheedy in the Breakfast Club. Yeah, that’s me. The quirky creative dark one, lurking in the shadows, watching everyone and giggling to myself. 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend! Keep the great posts coming!
Heather
http://www.heatherrigney.com
intheAMDay said:
Thanks so much, Heather! And you’ll always be welcome at the table, even when full. It’s funny how the more things change…the more they stay the same. Seems like you and your sister-in-law have the right idea. You have a great weekend as well.