Take a Vacation with Social Media Mobile DevicesHave lots of social media mobile devices? You’re ready to take a vacation. (Don’t miss the dramatized podcast.)
Picture this. You’re relaxing under a beach umbrella with a gorgeous view of the ocean, your kids happily playing in the water, your spouse enjoying beach volleyball. And you? Well, you’re happy as a clam reading your iPad, tweeting and staying in touch with your Facebook friends. After all, why disconnect from your friends. Take a social media mobile vacation.
Fred Cavazza, writing in Forbes, says: “Mobile devices like iPhones and iPads allow users to stay in touch with their social graph while on vacations. Moreover, they allow users to share new kinds of content (checkins, photos) in a much more casual context.” Cavazza believes that just because the Europeans get lots of time off, Americans shouldn’t squander their one or two week vacation not communicating with their digital friends.
He’s right, of course. Surely you’re don’t want to screw up your “social graph” by leaving mobile devices at home. You might destroy your Web presence or possibly ruin your relationships with friends on Twitter or Facebook. So when you take a vacation, tell everyone “I’m going to take a social media mobile vacation. I’ll send you lots of photos and tweets that will make you drool.”
Do you remember your last vacation? Did you haul 25 pounds of mobile gear with you? Did you have anxiety attacks if you left without your iPad, iPod, mobile phone and MacBook Air? You’re not alone.
Imagine in your mind the glories of a social media vacation. Actors: You and your family. Commentator: Yours truly. Support cast: Your social media mobile devices. Locations: home, car, beach.
…Mom: “Honey, did you pack the sunscreen, band-aids and iPad?
…Dad: “Sherry [his daughter], where’s the iPad?
…Sherry: “I don’t know. Sammy [her brother] probably left it on the couch. I’ll get it.”
…Sammy: “Dad, where’s my iPhone?”
…Dad: “You probably left it in the car again. Go get it.”
…Sammy “Not fair. Sherry used it last. She’s such a nerd [a one iPhone family, you understand].
…Mom: “Sweetie” [to Sherry], would you also get Mom’s Kindle. I want to read my new novel at the beach.”
On the Way to the Beach
…Sammy: “I’m bored, my iPhone can’t connect to Facebook.”
…Dad: “Here [he throws the iPad at Sammy], use this.”
…Mom: “Sherry, where did you put my Kindle?”
…Sherry: “On top of the washer.”
…Mom: “You mean you left it at home! How am I going to read my new novel?”
…Dad: “Honey, just share my iPad. Just download the Kindle app.”
…Sammy: “No way, my friends expect me on Tagged and Fourquare.”
…Sherry: “And my feature phone doesn’t have Nimbuzz on it. How am I going to communicate?”
…Dad: “Kids, it’s a vacation. You’re supposed to play on the beach, watch the ocean…you know, have fun! By the way, did I put my Nikon camera in the back seat?”
…Mom: “Oh, I may have left it on the bed.”
…Dad: “What! How am I going to take any vacation pictures? We won’t have any social media mobile memories.”
…Sammy: “Hey, Dad, you can use my iPhone. It’s got a camera.”
…Dad: “That thing! Pictures look like someone dry-cleaned them.”
…Mom: “Well, honey bunch, we’ll just buy one of those Kodak throwaways. Pictures are pretty good.
…Dad: “Honk…arrggghhhhhhhh” Some social media mobile vacation, Cutie Pie. Turn on the Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 107.”
…Mom: “Oh, I think I canceled that when we loaded Pandora Internet Radio on the iPad and iPhone.
Social Media Mobile Family Goes to Beach
…Dad: “We’re here, gang, let’s have a picnic.
…Sherry: “No, it’s been an hour since I updated my Twitter stream. Where’s the iPhone?”
…Mom: “Sweetie, mommy is using it to send an email to your uncle telling him how much fun we’re having.”
…Sherry: “O.K., I’ll use the iPad even though it’s too big.” [Sammy snorts]
…Dad: “Honey Poo” [his wife], make sure Mikes sends me two nails on CityVille for my new barn.”
[Mom and Dad prepare the picnic]
…Mom: “Ah, smell that fresh ocean. Kids, why don’t you play ball on the beach while Mommy and Daddy make hot dogs?”
…Sherry: “Sure. Sammy, bring the iPhone so we can take pictures of all the dogs.”
…Sammy: “All right. But we gotta see that new website called “DoggiePhone.com.” It’s all about gadgets for dogs.”
…Mom: “Ah, why don’t you just change clothes and play in the water, kiddies?”
…Dad: “Yeah, Remember we came to have fun. Ditch the mobiles. Besides, I need the iPad to look up that new recipe for hot dogs.”
[Kids play. Mom and Dad make picnic lunch; kids return with a dog.]
…Sammy: “Hey, Mom and Dad, look at the dog we found. He’s wearing a wireless flea collar that tweets when he needs another one. Cool….”
…Sherry: “Yeah, awesome. And I bought an iPhone water protector from a guy on the beach. So we can take pictures underwater.”
…Mom: “Where did you get the money, kiddie sweet?”
…Sherry: “Oh, I won some cash playing “Cash For Kids” online. Isn’t that neat?”
…Mom: “Sherry, you’ve been gambling online? Never do that again.”
…Dad: “Chows on. Even got that fantastic new hot dog recipe off the iPad.”
[Everyone stuffs food while watching a re-run of Seinfeld on the iPad.]
…Mom: “Isn’t this just heaven?
…Sammy: “Yeah but the water-proof iPhone cover fell off.”
And so the family had a delightful time with their social media mobile devices, the beach, ocean, wireless-enabled dog, Seinfeld. And Dad bought a wireless camera and uploaded photos to all his Facebook and Twitter friends. They took a nice nap next to their new friend, a wireless tweeting dog.
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