If you want to keep in touch with family and friends, there’s Facebook. If you want to share your thoughts and experiences via video, there’s YouTube. If you’ve got ideas and opinions to share in 140 characters or less, there’s Twitter. And if you’re into instant visual inspiration via photos, videos and whatever comes to mind…there’s Tumblr. And even though I still am very much a traditional blogger who doesn’t see this format dying off anytime soon despite what the New York Times may say…I’m finding myself cheating on my blog with my microblogs. Forgive me, bellas.
I’m pretty much addicted to Twitter, and it always makes me a little sad when I hear people say stuff like they don’t “get Twitter.” I guess to an outsider it might seem narcissitic and very Generation Overshare and yes, there’s some of that. Quite a bit of that. Even as I’m trying to wean myself off complete immersion in Twitter all day every day (it’s a problem!), I can’t deny its power and the benefits I’ve gained from being part of it. I’ve made some real, amazing friends and lasting relationships through Twitter. I’ve gotten some incredible opportunities and gained valuable insight on any number of topics through Twitter.
And now Tumblr is making more of a name for itself. I’ve been on Tumblr for a while but at first the concept perplexed me. Hence the title of my Tumblr blog, Afrobella’s Random Musings – free and random as I wanna be. There I post the random songs and images that inspire me throughout the day, without any need for context or further verbage. It’s a very immediately gratifying medium in that regard. Here on Afrobella.com I take pains to add context and links and make a post worth reading. On Tumblr you can just post a photo and let it speak that 1,000 words all by itself.
I know many who are immersed in the overall community of Tumblr but like any form of social media, your Tumblr experience can really be catered to your specific interests. All you have to do is click around. If you LOVE natural hair, there’s hair inspiration GALORE. If you’re super into fashion and/or fatshion, there are some fly Tumblr blogs you should get into ASAP. If you’re into photography or animals or just random weirdness, there’s a lot of that too. If you’re into grown n sexy stuff, there’s quite a bit of that on Tumblr – so if you’ve got kids and they’re into Tumblr, you just might want to be aware of what’s out there. Not all of it is innocent.
For me, my Tumblr timeline tends to be filled with lots of fashion and beauty inspiration, and LOTS and LOTS of images of beautiful black women of all shapes and sizes. I was so delighted when For Harriet included me on their list of 45 Must Follow Tumblrs for Black Women. Compared to truly focused Tumblr blogs like Le Coil and Vintage Black Glamour, my little corner of Tumblr is random and unfocused. So I’m just honored to be on the list!
Are you on Tumblr? Leave your link in the comments below if you are! Tell me your favorite Tumblr blogs!
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