Disengage

Hey, want a challenge for the Labor Day weekend? Stop looking at Facebook and Twitter.

Okay, we've been told over and over that radio people need to be very active on social media. I've told you that before. It's all about the engagement with listeners, right? Plus, it's show prep. So, we're always connected, always online, and radio shows and podcasts reflect what we read and hear on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and TikTok. That's what we do in 2020.

Maybe you should take a break from that.

I don't have to tell you why, do I? Okay, social media can be wonderful -- family and friends, cat videos, breaking news. It can also be stressful and horrible. Reading the comments... well, you know. So, with the long weekend here, take a break. Put the phone down. Stop doomscrolling. Breathe.

This is, of course, nothing revolutionary. People have been telling you this since social media became a thing, and before that, they told you to stop watching TV for a few hours and go outside and live. I imagine that this was true in the age of cave drawings ("stop reading the wall and go outside and kill dinner"). We all know it, but we don't do it.

Do it. It doesn't have to be permanent; you don't have to delete anything. Just use some willpower and leave the phone on the charger or in your pocket. Besides lowering your blood pressure, stepping away might also change your perspective. When you see news stories, your reaction won't mirror what you've been reading from others. You might have a better perspective on the importance of topics, too: It's easy to assume that a topic is good for the radio because it's "trending," but that might distort the true relevance to your audience, many of whom aren't on Twitter and aren't the people driving the trend. You might be surprised how little your intended audience cares about some of the topics that burn up the charts on Twitter.

There's the challenge. Take a break for a few days. Everything will be there when you return. And I'll be there, too, because disconnecting is hard and I know myself.

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I know, short one today. Nobody wants to read a long column on the Friday before the long weekend. Anyway, we'll keep the plugs short, too. Show prep? Talk Topics. Click here and/or follow the Talk Topics Twitter feed at @talktopics with every story individually linked to the appropriate item.

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YOU write a closing joke. I'm already checked out.

Perry Michael Simon
Vice President/Editor, News-Talk-Sports and Podcast
AllAccess.com
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