When it comes to H1N1, nobody really knows what awaits us in the near future. Paranoid preparation, ala Y2K? Or full-blown pandemic the likes of which the modern world hasn’t seen? We hope for the best, we should prepare for the worst – in our personal and business lives.
There are two things we know to be true: 1) Swine Flu requires human contact to transmit from one person to another; and 2) social media does not. So if you aren’t already posting, tweeting, blogging, updating, etc., now might be a good time to start.
In days of old, countries could be crippled by a lack of connection caused by any number of things – such as war, plague or natural disaster. Today, technology keeps us hyper-connected, so that the world can learn of all matters significant and trivial in a nanosecond. It can feel annoying and intrusive at times, but think about the possibilities in times of crisis. Social media is no replacement to physical socializing, but it does offer a sense of community – a community that you choose. And that may be a critical saving grace during a time when we may be fearful of external contact (or possibly quarantined). I think many of us would rather be connected than feel alone.
Before you and/or those around start feeling symptoms, why not come up with a social media strategy to help get you through the H1N1 flu? Perhaps Facebook will be more than where you keep tabs on the class clown from elementary school. Now maybe it will be a true virtual meeting place among family and friends. You may expand your LinkedIn presence from merely having a profile to truly connecting through highly targeted groups. The searchability of microblog service Twitter may prove its merits to the myriad doubters out there: in real time, you can experience answers to questions from people you may not even know…but who may have something in common with you. I wouldn’t be surprised if Twitter leads to many new friendships and professional liaisons in the event of a massive H1N1 outbreak.
Many of us blog a little bit, but expect blogs to take on an even more powerful role in the near future. Interacting with bloggers you can “trust” – learning from their posts, commenting, bantering with other comment-makers – allows for a deeper connection to a specific expertise or personality. That’s a void filler, and one that can be accessed day or night.
If laughter is the best medicine, then Youtube can expect record numbers of uploads and views. And speaking of videos, Skype and other video chat programs will offer the best of both worlds: interaction while seeing others without being exposed to germ exchange.
Right now, we are finalizing our H1N1 plan at work – and it includes several forms of social media. That’s what made me start thinking about applying this to my personal life…which is what made me write this article.
Written by Denise McVey,
Denise is the President of Boonton, NJ-based S3.
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
