How does Snapchat fit into the social media culture? Snapchat rejected a bid from Facebook and now has grown to be possible competition for Facebook. More teens use Snapchat (or Instagram) than they do Facebook. Snapchat is a mobile messaging app for sharing a photo or a video, then add a caption or doodle or lense, and send it to a friend or add it to your story to share with the world/your followers. Friends can view individual snaps for up to 10 seconds, and then it disappears.

Warren Whitlock, veteran to social media and author of one of the first books on Twitter was puzzled by his lack of interactivity on his Snapchat.

Tamara McCleary wrote this as her reply to the public post as her “take” on all things social media… it is biased, and filtered through my own lens, and not at all true, just true for me. (My full disclosure) So… social media… pick your platform, they all have different personalities, different uses, and they are all fun in their own way. I LOVE social media… in all of its flavors. Twitter is much different in “feel” than Facebook and both are different than Instagram or Pinterest or LinkedIn… in the end here’s how I look at social media in general.

I play around with the various platforms and I enjoy one, great! If I don’t then that’s okay too. It’s not a one size fits all, and most importantly….MOST importantly just take a look at what it is that you are using it for. I use them all for different purposes, and I’m on some more than I am on others. (Please forgive me Father for I have sinned… it’s been months since my last Pin!) Sorry Pinterest.

I enjoy ALL of the various platforms for different reasons, and none of them are the same. One thing that brings me great joy is to simply explore, interact when there’s action, and enjoy the peace when there’s not. I’m not always on SnapChat, just like I’m not always on FB or Twitter or IG. I’m a human being after all and it’s unrealistic to think that someone living a whole life can constantly be engaging online lest they are not engaging in their real life too. I thoroughly enjoy my time away from social media as much as my time engaging on social media.

I am clear with myself about why I am spending time on which platform and why. SnapChat for me has never been a community builder, or high engagement tool. I admit it, SnapChat has been pure fun… pleasure, joking back-and-forth with folks who have “snapped” me directly. Sometimes I check other’s snaps and sometimes I’m not on for days unless I get a notification that someone has snapped me directly. (Usually a family member, one of our kids, or a close friend.) AND the Snaps I get are pure silliness. Now… whole other story when I move to say…. my LinkedIn. THAT is far more professional and my purpose, my motives there are business not silliness. Twitter is more of a cocktail party for me, my motives there again are different, and just like any social situation, the context has shifted. So LinkedIn might have been the office conference room, now Twitter is the networking cocktail party. Then move on to Facebook which feels more like the family gathering in the living room where one can let their hair down. My feelings, purpose, reason for being “on” are all different depending on the platform… the context.

In the end, it’s never about who is or is not engaging with me, it’s more about me being clear with me about what it is it that I am seeking. What am I looking for? What do I want from the platform? When I get honest with myself about my own expectations, attachments to outcomes, it’s a lot easier to see the truth of what “is.” The truth “is” I have found => I am much happier looking to engage than I am looking for evidence that I’m being engaged.

Just as I have found the deepest seed nugget of all; I am most loving when I am looking to love versus looking for evidence that I am loved. SnapChat for me is the most delightful vehicle I know to play with my nieces, get sweet private little messages from them… even though I cannot be involved in their daily lives since we live in different states, they send me little funny video snippets and silly pics and we are staying close even though I am far away. You see, for me SnapChat isn’t about building my brand or engaging a community… it’s just another vehicle to connect and sometimes it’s just to be a good auntie.

Warren Whitlock replies: Wow. This was unexpected. Constant total amazement from you.  I love how you describe detaching from outcomes.

I too prefer to jump in, add what value and wisdom I can muster and hope to make someone smile.
Lately, I’ve seen my engagement with others skyrocket to be most of what I do. On Twitter, that means most of my tweets are answers to someone.. often unexpected, hopefully enjoyed. On Facebook, I answer comments on my posts (nearly as good as you) but spend more time answering others.

My pivot was reading OBLIQUITY. I started see how pushing to stay on course and measuring outcome kept me from the serendipity that brings most of what I want out of life.

I am reminded of a story about setting goals. A man wrote down what he wanted from life and then misplaced the list. Found it years later. Most of the goals were achieved.

I am not against goal systems, tracking and measuring. I track social media and marketing way more than most. Doing so, and deeply knowing those results, has allowed me to go with my intuitive click (as Tom Justin taught me) and know that I’ll get everything I need by just helping others get what they want.

Mike Allton responds: That is fantastic Tamara. You’ve brilliantly articulated why certain social networks work or fit into your life, and at the same time, offered a lesson for the rest of us.

This is exactly why I think the X is better than X arguments are a waste of time. You didn’t mention Google+, yet that happens to be one of the most important platforms on the planet to ME. Does that make you wrong or misguided? Of course not.

The fun is in the exploration. And the gift is in finding a platform that does *something* for us, whatever that something is.

So don’t feel bad Warren. I don’t get anything out of SnapChat either. But you and I are both wealthy in social media benefits elsewhere and don’t have to get something from everything.  On the other hand, maybe you’re just doing it all wrong. (wink)

Tamara McCleary replies to Mike, I love your comment buddy. Gosh you are so spot-on, I didn’t mention Google+ because it’s never been my thing. I felt like it was dying away so I pulled my energy away from it because Lawd knows it’s hard to juggle all of these multiple platforms! And I do all of my own social media, I don’t have any help. I personally answer everyone back and write al of my own posts. Sometimes it feels overwhelming to keep up… and then I don’t keep up. smile emoticon I think we’re all doing it all wrong and all right at the same time. We are trailblazing new territory in this fantastic, fabulous, world of technological advances by the second. It’s a VERY exciting time to be alive! Let’s all just get messy together!

Likes UP and thanks for sharing, Warren, Tamara, and Mike.