OK, folks, the next one of you who pokes or nudges me is going to get smacked. Alright, maybe not smacked, but I will certainly wave my fist in the air in your honor.
What is it about these features that irk me so much? Ever since signing up for Facebook and Twitter I have been aware of their importance ridiculousness. However, my frustration culminated the other day when I signed into Facebook to see that … my father poked me. Yup, it’s true, and worst yet, now I felt obligated to poke back (after that whole “he gave me life and raised me” thing) and consequently we have exchanged at least four rounds of pointless poking.
Now I get the general idea of nudging and poking. For those of you who are a little unclear as to what I’m ranting about, here is the gist of each: A “nudge” is a Twitter feature that enables one user to remind another user to update their status and a “poke” is a little finger icon on Facebook that enables you to virtually “poke” another user. I’m not sure of the actual point behind poking, unlike the Twitter nudge it’s a bit more elusive. It’s kind of the virtual equivalent of smiling at someone without saying hello, or in most instances it’s a somewhat creepy, passive-aggressive way to get a stranger to add you as a friend.
Anyway, it’s not so much that I don’t see purpose in nudging and poking, but rather — in my opinion, they fuel the insane (and at times the insomniac) side of social media — the fact that strangers, friends, colleagues, and all in between now have the ability to touch me whenever they feel up to it. They have the power to interrupt my offline time, with a reminder to get back online. In short, these functions are our generation’s way of invading each other’s private space.
I have to admit part of me is somewhat humored by the actual creation of these functions. I picture these great minds together in a room, building these two popular networks, having a conversation about how their users could interrupt each others offline lives with virtual movements. I wonder if other words were considered such as “tickling” or “pinching.” Hmmm, I wonder if LinkedIn has considered something like this? Maybe they should come out with a more professionally appropriate version of the poke and nudge, perhaps “coffee getting,” a function enabling you to drop a virtual cup of coffee off at someone’s professional profile.
I digress. I’m more curious as to how, if ever, these functions have really been used to supplement the great communicative tools that are Twitter and Facebook? I wonder if there are any love stories out there that started, “It was true love at first nudge …” or if some great collaborative partnership started because someone “poked” another entrepreneur one night when they couldn’t sleep, and started sharing great ideas via the messaging platform.
Something tells me no, but I’d love to hear why you all use the nudge and poke function. Better yet, I’d like to know if anyone is an avid user of these features — a real believer in their benefits. In the meantime, I’m going to go start a Facebook support group for those who have been Poked by a Parent, and of course while I’m in there … poke Dad back [Insert head in hands here].
Joanna Lord is a social marketing consultant and founder of YourJobStop, the job resources board. See her business profile, contact Joanna or leave a comment below.
I feel your pain. My mom keeps sending me those damned "Most Beautiful Person" and "Send a Drink" things. I can't just ignore her because it would make her feel bad, so I go in and send whatever she sent back and then the cycle continues. Its miserable and makes my soul die a little each time I do it.
I can almost hear a young(er) Joanna in the back seat of her parents car with brother "Dad! He won't stop poking me!" And today, Dad is doing the poking.
I'm with Shirley, I really, REALLY hate the application invites – enough already people!