I know that social networking is not necessarily screenwriting related, but many screenwriters I know (famous and not so much) use sites like Facebook and Twitter to make contacts in the industry. Some even peddle products, like their scripts or their short videos to boot. This is all well and good, I do it too, but my main question is: What’s the point?

I guess this question stems from the amount of “follows” I get on Twitter that are from local businesses that are either far away or not interesting to me. Not to say this is a problem—I like getting followers. However weak the connection may be, it does feel cool to meet and possibly learn someone’s name in Poughkeepsie, New York or Dover, Delaware.

Yet I don’t get the follow-up direct message: “like” my page on facebook. Why? What’s the difference? How is my “liking” them on Facebook going to enhance my knowledge of what they do or what they are selling? I know that on their Facebook page, they are just going to refer me back to their Twitter page. I also know that their posts on either social networking site are going to be basically the same product or service; more often than not stuff I may not want.

I understand that publicity is good for everyone, whether a writer or not—but if it is baseless and offers very little in return—why do it? Sure, you have a brand, but do you have the content to make that cool logo worthwhile? Prove me wrong. Send me a coupon I can really use. Give me a first-look sneak preview of your next video. Send me some swag for gosh sakes—just let’s leave the echo chamber stuff alone.

I would really like to hear your thoughts on this one.