It was the first day of classes during the spring semester of my freshman year. I walked into my English 209 class, took my seat and waited for the normal first day routine to begin. The teacher entered the room shortly after me and I immediately knew this guy was a "hip" guy. He had big dark rimmed glasses, tattoos and a cigar dangled from his lips. However, Mr. Cool quickly turned into Mr. Creepy Creeperton when he revealed he was going to take roll by matching our names with our profile pictures he already saw on facebook.
Why was this so creepy to me? The answer is simple: he was my teacher, over the age of 30 and looking at my pictures on facebook.
New studies reveal 35 percent of adults have profiles on a social network site. In fact, the majority of new users on facebook are over the age of 35.
I understand the appeal for adults. Most of my generation graduated from high school and immediately made a profile on facebook or some other site. I always knew about the exciting events happening in the lives of my friends and if I grew curious their current status was just a click away. Many of the adults joining facebook are reconnecting with friends and family they lost contact with and having a good time during the process. I get it, I really do, but I am still not happy about this new trend.
Facebook was a new idea for social networking. You could only sign up for facebook with a college student e-mail address. It slowly began to change because facebook could not keep up with the other social networks. First, it was the addition of the high school students and now everyone and their mom literally are proud facebook users.
Listen adults, I hear your cries. "Let us have fun too!" Still, I am not comfortable with the fact that my parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, co-workers, teachers and even bosses could view my pictures from the past weekend. There is nothing wrong with them. I am of age and can legally drink and have fun with my friends during the weekends if I so please. But now, as parents and other adults join the site, I and many other users find ourselves questioning what pictures are appropriate. Having my mom or worse my boyfriend's mom (who recently befriended me on facebook) looking at the pictures of me and my friends having one too many long island ice teas on a Saturday night at the replay lounge doesn't sound like a good time to me. I am feeling ashamed for something I shouldn't feel ashamed about.
So adults you can have your professional social networks, but please let us have our college plaything.
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