February 19, 2015 by Vincent

Is Social Media Introvert a Thing?

Introverts are generally seen as shy, anti-social, and awkward in their daily interactions with people around them. This perception is being challenged as people take a greater interest in understanding the underlying reasons why introverts act the way they do. In Sophia Dembling’s “The Introvert’s Way,” she put introverts in a different light.

You’re not shy; rather, you appreciate the joys of quiet.
You’re not unsociable; instead, you enjoy recharging through time alone.
You’re not unfriendly, but you do find more meaning in one-on-one connections than large gatherings.

I’m an introvert. And I uses Facebook a lot. Lately though, I haven’t been posting much at all. I’m mostly on the social network to read random musings from my friends and to follow publications and brands. That hadn’t been the way all the while. I used to write and share more on the platform when my friend list is still limited to only a handful of my closer friends.

A research from University of Alabama Huntsville shows that people who share the most on Facebook are not social network’s most active users. Instead, shy users who do not post much are the ones spending more time on Facebook. This sounds a lot like attending a large gathering, whereby as an introvert, one would prefer listening and observing other people from a corner rather than participating in the conversation.

Now, while I still have the urge to share, I prefer using lesser known platforms that my friends and acquaintances rarely use. I feel more comfortable sharing on networks like Google+ (the so-called ghost town), where the audience are mostly strangers and small in number. Social networks have been touted as a fitting tool for introverts to communicate and socialize with the world, as they can hide behind a keyboard and still express themselves without having energy-sapping face-to-face interactions.

But to me, the noise on Facebook is really quite similar to that of a crowded room, where everyone tries to get their voices heard. In turn, I find myself looking for a quieter platform, instead of competing to have myself heard in a constantly buzzing conversation. Perhaps, alternative social networks that promises intimacy, like when Path first started out, is the answer.

If you’re an introvert, do you feel the same as I do?

Image source: Introvert in Disco Hoodie | Flickr

#Facebook#introvert#Social Media#social network