How do we get past that awkward moment when social media life meets real life?

That moment when social media life meets real life.  Awkward or not?

Last week, I had a reader confess that we go to the same church, but she hadn’t introduced herself because it felt a little weird, almost like she had been spying on me.

As she stated, “In the world of technology it’s hard to know how to navigate appropriate social behavior.”  I didn’t blame her one bit.  That situation has “awkward” written all over it.  I asked her to introduce herself anyways.  

Turns out, the awkwardness was minimal, she seems super sweet, and we have plans to chat over coffee soon.

But the situation got me thinking.  When is the transition awkward, and when is it not?

It’s one thing to meet someone you don’t “know” very well, but what about that person you’ve been following for years?

It’s weird, isn’t it?  Especially if their posts are at all vulnerable.  What do you do?  Do you pretend like you don’t know anything about them?  Do you act like you know everything about them (hint: you don’t know everything about them).  Where does your relationship begin?

And how about as a blogger?  What do you do when you meet someone who has been reading your words for years?  Do you assume they know nothing about you and start from scratch, like a real life friendship?  Or do you assume they’ve read everything you’ve ever written (hint: they haven’t read everything you’ve written).

And let’s be real here, we look different in real life than in our highlight reel, so there is vanity to worry about.  

Which is the more awkward side to be on?  For me it’s being the reader, hands down.  I just don’t know where to start.  There are a few people that would cause me to stutter in their presence.  Not because they are any kind of superstar, but because I know too much about them without really knowing them at all.

Instagram is another weird world.  Have you ever met someone from Instagram in real life?  I’ve found the best way to get through that awkwardness is to meet it head on, especially if you run in the same circles.  There is nothing worse than chatting it up on Instagram and then being too shy to speak in real life.

(Not that I’ve done that or anything).
(I totally have).
(Shout-out to my now real-life friend Nathan for breaking through that IG-only barrier).

As our world continues to shrink, and our social circles continue to widen, I wonder more and more about how to navigate these sometimes awkward social situations.

How about you?  Have you ever met a “blogging personality” in real life?  What was it like?  Where did you start?  Have you ever been the blogger who meets someone who has been following your social media accounts for years?  Did you feel awkward or ok?

Am I the only one who feels awkward about all of this?  (hint: I hope you say no).

For the record, everyone in the photo at the top was lovely and there was very little awkwardness.  Raechel and I even had a conversation about this very topic when we met at Blissdom (remember that, Raechel?)