I hate the Facebook. It's true that I have an account. It's also true that I check my Facebook profile at least once a day. But why? It's beyond me. To me, it's like this second-rate social networking ploy. It's only available to students. Doesn't anyone have friends who don't go to college? It all just seems so… constricting?
I have a Myspace account. I use it for blogging, communication or even research.
It keeps me in touch with good friends (outside of the realm of college), allows me to contemplate my day and find information on music or other such topics of interest. It has a purpose.
Facebook seems like just another reason for young people to be more interested in themselves than they should be. People can use the excuse that it's there to keep in touch, which is fine, but no way am I buying into the idea that e-mail is too time-consuming. Where do you have to be, anyway? It's like a party on my PC and everyone's invited.
That's not to say that the idea behind computer-social networks is bad. As Barry Wellman puts it, "The Internet increases people's social capital, increasing contact with friends and relatives who live nearby and far away. New tools must be developed to help people navigate and find knowledge in complex, fragmented, networked societies."
I think Wellman is right. Networked societies do need a continuing technological advance and they are important in linking groups. However, let's not get carried away with instant messaging, facebooking and text messaging. Just because technology advances, doesn't mean it's better. There are simpler things. People are just missing it.
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