Juggling Personas

Persona is described as the outer part of a personality or character. We exhibit different traits when we are in our business personas than in our roles as spouse, friend, parent, child, etc. Trying to be everything to everyone is recognized as an impossible accomplishment, but it is exactly the expectation we are confronted with everytime we log-in to our social media sites. Juggling different personas as they collide in our virtual worlds can present some real-life challenges.

Awkwardness develops when we decline to spend time with one friend and then get tagged in pictures showing the great time we were having with another. Everyone has heard stories of people calling in sick to work and then being the surprise star of a photo spread detailing their actual activities that day. A recent Fox News article describes the potential impact on dating: Social media causing tension, jealousy in relationships. 

Real-life relationships are sometimes forfeited for the companionship of virtual friends. The broad reach of social media, across all continents and time zones results in having 'friends' literally at your fingertips anytime you need them. Sadly, some people actually prefer the easy interaction and somewhat anonymity their online relationships offer over spending face time with their real friends. Longtime friendships can suffer in proportion to the amount of time spent with people you never have and probably never will meet.

Balancing work and life has always been a challenge, but with all the technological advancements we enjoy, it can seem like we're never off work. And if you have co-workers as friends and followers on your social sites, it might be best to act like you never are off work. Conflicts will arise when you try to maintain a serious and responsible persona by day yet continuously post the gritty details of a wild and crazy night life. 

Sometimes balancing friends and family can produce unexpected results as well. Close friends and relatives can take exception to the fact that the first place they learned of a major life event such as an engagement, marriage, birth or death was via social media. The impersonalness of the announcement puts everyone in the awkward position of wondering what they are supposed to do next. Should they make a phone call to offer congratulations or condolences, or simply assume that it isn't expected as they weren't important enough to be informed in a more personal manner?

Even though the official minimum age to have a Facebook account is 13, estimates have been made that more than 7,000,000 users are younger than that. On the other end of the spectrum, senior citizens are utilizing Facebook as a good way to reconnect and stay in touch with old friends. Even if your friend list doesn't contain anybody from either of these age groups right now, it is likely that someday it will. Remembering that a young person may be looking at you as a role model, keep your online behavior in line with how you present yourself while in their company. As for the seniors, let's suppose they always thought you were a responsible individual, you sure wouldn't want to disappoint them now by proving them wrong.

Juggling all the roles at the same time can be challenging, but it can be done. Never lose sight of the fact that social media sites are not private, are not adequate as a truly personal form of communication, and are not limited to being read by just the small number of people you routinely interact with. It's your act, don't drop the ball.

More articles like this:
The Party Principle 
Loose Lips & Loose Fingertips
Designate and Thinker if You're a Drinker

Have a topic you'd like to see discussed on Simply Squirrel Food? Send me an email I'd love to hear from you.