Social Media Isn't Social At All! (by Patty Blount)

Social media plays a prominent role in my novels and in my author life. The post you're reading right now? This came about from connections I made online (thank you, Kimberly Sabatini!)  In fact, I've never met the authors who regularly blog here at YA Outside the Lines in real life. 

I got published because of social media connections. I connected to someone on Twitter, who invited me to my first meeting of my local RWA chapter here on Long Island. That chapter used to hold an annual Agents & Editors lunch, where authors could pitch their projects to industry professionals. I did so, and landed a two-book deal with Sourcebooks (SEND and TMI). 

I forged some very real connections to people because we first connected via social media. 

Social media is a powerful tool. But lately... lately, I don't think social media is very social at all. I miss Twitter's heyday, when people were real and the posts weren't all insults and flame wars about the atrocities taking place in the White House on a daily basis. Today, you have to be cautious about what you post because hatred and fear have permeated every link. I'm online less and less these days because I have neither the time nor the inclination to engage in these pointless volleys. 

I wish Elon Musk never bought Twitter and turned it into a Maga-phone. I met incredible people on Twitter, who didn't just talk AT me, but engaged with me, and as a result, changed how I think about things. Here's an example: I posted a comment about how ridiculous I thought it was for publishers to waste money on books written by celebrities-of-the-moment. In response, I received replies from various professionals in the industry, who explained that such projects are vital to everyone's success, not just that celebrity's. Because of their name, these projects are usually big sellers and even best-sellers. The resulting influx of cash means these publishers have the power to invest in serious projects from authors without big names. In other words, these projects keep publishing's lights on. 

I never thought about it like that and changed my perception, my thinking, because this was when social networks were truly social. 

Today, they're nothing more substantive than a vehicle for bullies to bully.