I apologize for the crass title, but it is exactly how I feel when I receive an IM with only a Digg or Reddit link in it. I am absolutely open to my friends alerting me to a new story they submitted. However, I am less likely to upmod a story if the person does not engage me on a personal level. After all, I am an old fashioned girl; I need to be taken out a few times first. As users become increasingly preoccupied with their submissions, they tend to forget about the core element of social media: being social!
Mass-pimping submissions without the necessary pleasantries can simply be annoying. Ironically, it appears as though social media users are the ones who need the most guidance in socializing online. A simple message with, “Hi . I would really appreciate your help on this submission. <Link>. Thanks,” would get a friendlier response than just pinging the link. And when you take the time to do so, the recipients will be more likely to look at the article you submitted, vote on it, and comment accordingly.
However, there shouldn’t be an expectation that friends will automatically vote up your story just because you asked them to. If fellow users don’t enjoy the submission, they have every right to decline voting on it or downmod it without fear of repercussions. It is this process of critical evaluation that helps these social sites grow. When online friends pass on these links to one another, the deliberative process that occurs is what helps bring solid, interesting and quality content to the fore.
Originally posted by Reem Abeidoh on ReemAbeidoh.com. Used by SocialMediaRage with permission from Reem Abeidoh.
