talkingDigital

Do you know the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web? Many people don’t.

READ COLUMN AS IT APPEARED IN THE BEACON

The internet is the massive network of computers that allows you to use email, send pictures via your phone, and see who’s at the door from all the way across town, using that new video doorbell you keep seeing on the home shopping channel.

The World Wide Web is the collection of websites that you access by typing an address into the web browser of your device.

It’s acceptable to say, “I went on the internet to find out if giraffes can see in color.” But it’s more accurate to say that you did your research on the web.

Everything you do on the web is done via the internet, but not everything on the internet is done using the web.

Where does social media fit in?

Sometimes you’ll hear the argument that social media is the new World Wide Web, suggesting that Facebook is the preferred channel for information. Rather than visiting www.beaconseniornews.com to read the news, for example, many people simply follow the BEACON Senior Newspaper on Facebook and let the news come to them. This is a totally acceptable way to get the news, but you don’t want to use social media as your only source for gathering information online.

Don’t limit yourself

The biggest downside of using social media sites exclusively is that they only show you what they think you should see. If you follow The BEACON on Facebook, you won’t get all of the paper’s updates. You’ll only see updates that Facebook thinks you will interact with.

It’s also important to remember that there are great sources for news, information and shopping that you’ll never find if you don’t go directly to sites like news.google.com or www.cnn.com.

But there are some things social media does better by design than the web ever could.

Social media’s advantages

If you lose a pet and don’t post about it on a Facebook page designed to help find lost animals in your area, you miss out on the best possibility of reuniting with your furry friend.

The reason it’s so effective is because when you post your lost pet update, everyone in the group shares the post on their own Facebook pages, connecting with their friends. Suddenly you have a whole network of pet sleuths helping you.

Social media is also becoming the best place to sell your used items. Unlike sites like Craigslist, Facebook shows you the first and last name—and usually the face—of the person with whom you are dealing. It’s also becoming the best place on the web for job searches, business recommendations and even product reviews.

So the next time you hear someone say, “I don’t use social media because I don’t want to see what my friends ate for lunch,” explain to them that social media has as many practical uses—like videos of cats getting scared by cucumbers.

If all you are using your smartphone for is talk and text, you are really missing the point of the high tech device. Seriously, it gets you into a whole new world and you’re just using it like any other phone? That’s crazy, and kind of wasteful.

If you have a smartphone it’s pretty likely you are paying for some sort of digital package, or getting one for free, that gives you at least a certain amount of browsing time online and such. No matter what your digital plan is, you should be doing more with your phone if you are investing in the cost of a smartphone.

Use The GPS

One of the greatest benefits for people with smartphones that spend a lot of time in their vehicles is the fact that most of them come with GPS, so you don’t need a second device taking up space in your vehicle.

GPS isn’t just a way to help you get from point A to point B, but it also lets you check-in on your social media sites when you are visiting places or people. It’s also a great way to find what you need when you are in a strange area, since it allows you to search for nearby restaurants, stores, and more.

Do Some Browsing Or Shopping

Having a smartphone is a great way to stay connected to everything, even when you are nowhere near your computer. Sitting at the doctor’s office in the waiting room, bored, shop on Amazon right from your phone. Don’t want to haul your whole computer into the kitchen to use a recipe, search it on your phone and use that.

It streamlines your ability to browse and shop, and lets you do it from anywhere without the need to haul around your laptop. You can also spend time on social media, from your phone.

Play A Game

It’s counterproductive when you are trying to work, but when you are in a line or in a waiting room, why not play a game on your phone. There are plenty of mindless games that don’t take a lot of time or concentration in order to play. Do a match 3 or play Angry Birds, and have some fun.

There are games that you can play with your friends on your phone as well, so you can stay connected and have some fun.

Don’t just use your personal phone to talk on anymore, use it for so much more. There are also a million business things to do with your smartphone, if you are so inclined. The point is, smartphones are more than just a phone, they are a lifeline. Use yours for everything you can, instead of wasting its abilities.