This week has been interesting in terms of “studies” done on how social media is affecting our brains. According to Mashable and Fast Company, using sites like Facebook and Twitter increases the amount of oxytocin we produce. Basically, tweeting makes us feel good in our brains, reduces stress, etc etc. I could quote the whole study or you can just click on the links above for the facts so I don’t butcher them.
I’ve stopped freaking out in groups
The reason I wanted to write about this is because my boyfriend, Sam, pointed out a change in my social skills when I visited last month. I hadn’t seen the guy in almost a year, and, well, people change. Obviously. The thing is, I used to be enormously shy. I remember this one time I went to a party at Sam’s, probably a few months into our relationship. He has this amazing group of friends who have been nothing but welcoming and lovely to me. The thing is, they’ve all been friends for years and I just waltz in, which would make anyone uncomfortable. I remember this party because I stayed for maybe 5 minutes. I felt physically ill being in a group of people, knowing I had to talk to them when they’d probably be having more fun talking to each other. While I eventually got over myself a little bit and became friends with all these fabulous people, it took a long time and engaging new people was still difficult for me.
Fast forward a year and I go stay in a house full of them for 3 weeks. And let me tell you, I never got that uncomfortable feeling. I used to die a little inside when Sam would leave the room for a bit because then I’d have to attempt to be entertaining and whatnot without him as support. I expected that to happen this time around. But it didn’t.
It’s weird because I didn’t notice it at first. Sam just said to me one day, “It seems like you’re really more comfortable around people now.” That makes me sound like kind of a hermit before, but the general idea is true.
Social media has made me more confident of my mad skillz
And honestly? I think it’s this blog. I think it’s Twitter. We all have our strengths, and “working a room” isn’t one of mine. I’ve never been able to go up to strangers and just strike up a conversation. But lately I’ve been meeting so many Twitter friends – people I’ve never met before, but our common social media obsession has us chatting for hours in bars or cafes.
There’s also the fact that I finally feel like I’m useful, like I know what I’m talking about and am worth listening to. That sounds emo, I know, but I don’t know how else to put it. When it comes to blogging and social media and freelancing and books, I know my shit. So it’s beyond great to meet new people and talk about all the shit we know together! It’s made me more comfortable in groups.
Am I the only one who’s noticed this about myself? For all you folks on Twitter or keeping blogs, has the attention changed how you interact with people in real life?
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