As a teenager, I frequently used the "but everyone else is doing it" argument to try to secure permission for anything from attending a Guns N' Roses concert to staying out all night after prom. It did not usually work with my parents, but I am happy to say after all of these years, I have found a clear case where this excuse works: social media.

Statistics can be useful

Yes, the main reason you have to use social media is because everyone is using social media. And they are using it for everything from selling tickets to concerts to conveying safe sex messages to teenagers.

For a quick primer on the impact it has on every aspect of our lives, check out the video below from Erik Qualman at Socialnomics. It is 3 minutes and 18 seconds of visually appealing data about social media in our lives. My favorite tidbit that really pushes home the fact that social media can have an incredible reach: More people own a mobile device than a toothbrush.

Fun trivia, but what does it have to do with you at work? A lot. Look around: Over 50 percent of the world is under 30. And most of those youngsters would rather lose their sense of smell than their technology, according to Socialnomics data.

Translation: If you would rather keep your sense of smell, that is fine, but you are going to have to find a way to understand and work with someone who would rather take a picture of a rose and Instagram, pin, tweet or share it than smell it.

Start with LinkedIn

Hopefully, you are already on LinkedIn. If not, why not? LinkedIn is not just about looking for a job; though it is almost impossible to do so if you are not on it. It is about presenting your own message about you as a professional.

Regardless of industry or management level, managers consistently tell me they look at their team members on LinkedIn for everything from information to include on a performance review, to experience mining, to spying to see if they have noted they are open to career opportunities. Why leave any blanks for your boss to fill in? Use this free marketing as another way to emphasize your skills.

Conversely, LinkedIn is great for checking up on other professionals. Some of the most sought-after professionals have great profiles; and those profiles are a great resource for you to ensure you are on top of your game. Where else can you get a free, open look at your colleagues (or competitors)?

One last word

Communication. From selfie to SnapChat, social media has affected our vocabulary and method of communication. My favorite trivia tidbit from the video: The average person has a 7-second attention span; the average goldfish's is 8.

While that explains while my fish always wins our staring contests; more importantly it is a reminder that we like things in quick, appealing, tiny bites. Social media is built for this format. Use it and make sure your professional message is out there and accurate.

After all, everyone else is doing it.