A lot of you know this is one of my personal soap-boxes...I love social media, but it doesn't help you learn how to present, network and be confident IRL. And, doing so in person is vastly different than online. I'd love to hear if people think it has helped, because I think social media fails us to a certain extent in that regard.

How has social media helped you be more confident when networking in person? Or has social media caused you to be less confident when you don't have the natural defense of electronic communication?

Social Media fails Young Pros by creating a false sense of importance and entitlement. What I mean is that Social Media is a tool or platform to share your views, opinions and expertise. However, I believe that Young Pros don't necessarily have the field experience to truly be an authority. Compare a Young Pro with 2 years experience with someone who's been doing it for 50 years, whatever the profession. The Young Pro certainly brings a new thinking and brilliance to a profession, however they simply don't have the experience to truly be an "expert".

So what's the problem? The problem is that as Young Pros go out into the workforce they must make a decision to face the Gatekeepers of their industry, or push through and blaze their own trail. On Social Media, it's very easy to get followers and be interesting. However when you MUST make money to survive, you'll need to serve your clients. While being interesting might get people to look in your direction, without the actual follow through of performance, you wont make any real money. Also because Social Media creates a false sense of entitlement, when met with the Gatekeepers of your industry, you may abruptly meet the sense of reality when you are told that you just don't have the skill set necessary for your profession, even though on Social Media you were a guru.

So how do we fix this? By using Social Media to build your brand, where your brand is backed by some hardcore service and or skill set. Make sure you are leveraging Social Media as a tool for your business, for example, creating a solid customer base or list of potential customers, targeting your ideal customers, informing your customers of innovations in your business, and doing PR and Customer Service. Essentially, putting the customer first.

Identify your LONG term goals and figure out how to use Social Media to ensure longevity. Don't just be creative and interesting, back it up with a service oriented mindset.

I echo the thoughts of Ms. Harwell and Mr. Bezas above.

I hope to check in and see what develops.

Jason these are very valid points and you have phrased them to sound just like the last decade of corporate structure that has failed the people to a path laid by weak upper management. The "gate keepers" of industry are standing at the wrong gates and that will be apparent by years end.

Your words scramble and lose traction when you say that getting followers is easy. Interesting may be easy for you and you may of had much success. I think you have a view that social media has been here for a long time which you are correct, though rule changes are giving these new self proclaimed experts an agile quality that the primordial gatekeepers do not have.

Understand the voice of social media has come from this lack of leadership that the kings of industry have provided. They are not standing at the customers gate, as you have proclaimed to be exalted, they are standing at the gate of self interest. Remember the problems have continued with no solution for a decade.

I think the real question should be what is the future of social media and are the kings of industry ready to give up their status to stay in business?