Web Marketing Therapy

Dear Web 2.0 Fear Specialist- What to Do About Pesky Social Media “Friends”

June 23rd, 2009
by Amy Dunn

How do I Blow Off My In-Laws and Other People Who Annoy Me in Social Media?

Dear Web 2.0 Fear Specialist-

Please help me! My annoying and nosy mother in law “friended” me in Facebook and is now following me in Twitter! She wants to watch every move that my wife and I make! She is always looking at my pictures and commenting on my status to remind us to come visit, to call, and making us feel guilty 24/7. She is constantly sending us useless and time wasting applications and that I do not feel like doing and links to spam advertising! I love using Social Media channels- but how can I blow off people that annoy me?

Sincerely,

Annoyed in Aiken, SC

Dear Annoyed-

This is a very touchy subject indeed! It sounds as if your dear Mother in Law is suffering from a bit of loneliness which is causing her to behave in a slightly socially awkward manner. But she is not alone. To the surprise of many marketers, one of the top growing demographics of social media users are people who are over the age of 50! We love and embrace these users as they add wonderful value to online communities. But understand that you are feeling socially suffocated!

I know of many upset children of social media users who feel the same way- they do not want their parents, in-laws or other relatives to follow them so closely. I suggest that you encourage your mother in law to join other social networking communities geared to people in her demographic such as 50 Something Info. Perhaps she can use a service in Twitter called Twollow- that will automatically follow people with similar interests. Mr. Tweet is a guide that will help your her find people in Twitter to follow and talk to. By meeting so many new people in social media with similar interests, she may be less inclined to follow your every move.

I wish you and your Mother In-Law well.

Sincerely,

The Web 2.0 Fear Specialist

Got a social media question or fear to overcome? I cannot promise to answer each one, but I will try!

Email: amy@webmarketingtherapy.com (Please include WMT Question in the Subject Line)

or Direct Message or @reply me in Twitter: @girlamy (Use #WMT hashtag).

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Categories: Social Media, Tough Love