The power and accessibility offered by online social media connects the world and has formed an integral part or the marketing strategy for many businesses, small and large, going so far as hiring ‘social media experts’ to market their brand and position the business at a competitive advantage. 

As Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and newer platforms, such as FourSquare continue to blossom, they are opening up a whole new world of marketing  tools, making it ever more possible for anyone to build a solid online presence. They are also providing a new window on the ever fascinating gender divide.

Equality is still hard to achieve, and while social media presents a truly level playing field due to the anonymity it offers, in order to excel, it takes personality, commitment and perhaps even the feminine touch…

In truth, social media tools can prove much more powerful in the hands of women. Why you may ask?  A high percentage of women are born with the natural instincts of communication which enables them to connect with people and they are often much better at forming careful, long lasting relationships.  These natural attributes are in most circumstances nurtured from birth, during childhood and in adult social circles.

I see this all the time among my friends:  Both men and women are always talking about how men don’t vocalise enough and how women moan and nag all the time ‘disguising’ it as communication. But this natural instinct of women to constantly stay in touch translates perfectly into the use of online tools. Men just aren’t wired this way.

 It is fascinating how this new and seemingly’ neutral technology is fuelling the ongoing gender debate – over the differences in male and female socialisation. It seems as though ‘a woman’s touch’ extends past everyday life into the online realm as well. They are more inclined to stay in touch and be more open making them more thorough communicators consequently they are able to forge relationships with relative ease.

A  Powerful Exchange

However it’s not a one-way street. The explosion of social media is producing an interesting exchange. Women are taking what they already know from home online, and men are taking what they learn ‘online’ back into their home lives.  Men have become encouraged to embrace their feminine side, in the guise of a safe, technical, more masculine platform of expression.

 The benefits of this evolution are significant, causing a potential shift in the way men communicate. Men and women each bring something different to the table, and more importantly in a different sequence. They work backwards from each other.

While bridging old communication issues, social media also opened a whole new can of worms, taking away the ‘personal’ edge of communications.  As we indulge more deeply, we risk losing the ‘human element’. There are some messages that should not be communicated online. Both men and women need to understand this.

 It is important to be aware of the limits of online communications. When it comes to maintaining relationships, extending to both personal and professional associations, it is best not to choose convenience over quality in all cases.

About Natascha Trivedi

Originally from England, now based in Toronto, Natascha is a freelance writer and has worked in a number of industries. Her passion is to study and write about ‘fashion intelligence’ and how the awareness of image and presentation has the potential to alter one’s life, both professionally and personally. She is a regular contributer to ‘Asian Woman Canada’ a glossy quarterly fashion and lifestyle publication, and is currently pursuing her interest in the field of retail brand management.