Is Facebook becoming too prominent?

[Darkurai]

Okay, hear me out before you dismiss this one as pointless or a joke.

This argument could also apply to other social networking sites, but Facebook is the one I have in mind.

I have found that a Facebook account is slowly becoming a necessity. People are beginning to ignore more direct ways of actually talking to each other, and are instead simply using Facebook. Its apps are pointless, yet people treat them like they are insanely important and you absolutely MUST send them to everyone you know.

A personal story of my own may also help. I am in my high school's Repertory Theater, and the cast has frequent social events where we all just get together and hang out. Two such events I almost completely missed because the announcements of them were on Facebook, and Facebook only. There was no mention of them anywhere else, especially not during rehearsal.

I believe that it has come to the point where people simply expect you to have a Facebook account. In addition to whether or not you agree with this, there is also the question of whether this being a fact would be positive or negative. I personally believe it would be negative, but I'm interested to see what you all think.

 

[pyrotek7x7]

My first thought is just that Facebook has spread in different areas. It sounds like your school is quite reliant, but others may not be.

Apps aren't always being treated as insanely important. I never use them, they're boring and silly. Some people do use them, and the only reason they send it to others is because it requires you to do so. The only problem I do have with Facebook is how every, and I mean EVERY application wants you to invite others. Each invite I receive I will ignore, but it still can get annoying.

Facebook may just end up becoming a bulletin board for the world. I wouldn't mind that at all.

 

[Firus]

It's becoming more prominent than it should be in my opinion. People abuse status messages by making them minute-by-minute updates on what they're doing. Who cares?

The apps are definitely pointless. Especially really caddy ones like the Honesty Box, Compare People, and Top Friends. I refuse to get those apps, because they are going to hurt things. Like, seriously; who RANKS their friends and tells them their ranking? That's so superficial.

Mostly, I find it to be rather useless personally since only a handful of my good friends actually use it, and those who do barely use it anyways. It has been an effective form of communication when they use it, though, which I see nothing wrong with.

In your case, however, Darkurai, that's ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with contacting you via Facebook, but if they're given the opportunity in person, it's stupid that they wouldn't try that as well.

 

[Oracle]

It's definitely becoming more prominent. But is that actually bad?

The problem is that some people can't discern the difference between actually being social and using facebook. Facebook will never be a replacement for actually going out and doing things. Some of the nerdy type people, however, use only facebook as their method for talking to friends and such. It should be used to set up events, talk to people in situations that prevent them from being social (ie. a school day), etc.

 

[Firus]

Actually, the irony of that is that it's not necessarily nerdy people who use Facebook constantly. Facebook may be on the internet, where it's generally geeky to spend all of your time, but Facebook itself is "cool" and, as Darkurai said, people expect you to have a Facebook account. I could be wrong in this, but I'm pretty sure it's the more popular people who can't discern between real socializing and Facebook.

I'm fairly sure most of the people I know talk mostly on Facebook. Personally, I mostly talk to my friends either on Xbox Live or AIM because I just don't have time to hang out that often.

 

[AltF4]

Yes, and I remember back in middle school when you HAD to have a Yo-Yo in order to be cool. You were just simply left behind without one.

Welcome to childish fads.

At least Facebook has some utility. Just like these forums, it's a good way of keeping in touch with people who are far away from you. However, keeping in touch with someone you're going to see in an hour in 1st period? Not so much.

But what exactly are you proposing, Darkurai? Are you suggesting some kind of anti-Facebook legislation? Or a Facebook boycott? Or are you just simply saying that you don't like it... I don't really see a debate here.

 

[Darkurai]

Yes, and I remember back in middle school when you HAD to have a Yo-Yo in order to be cool. You were just simply left behind without one.

Welcome to childish fads.

At least Facebook has some utility. Just like these forums, it's a good way of keeping in touch with people who are far away from you. However, keeping in touch with someone you're going to see in an hour in 1st period? Not so much.

But what exactly are you proposing, Darkurai? Are you suggesting some kind of anti-Facebook legislation? Or a Facebook boycott? Or are you just simply saying that you don't like it... I don't really see a debate here.

I suppose I could have been much clearer in my original post.

The central question I meant to have here is something along the lines of "Is society beginning to accept social networking sites as a replacement or enhancement of sorts to more traditional or direct means of communication?"
Surely there is some merit in this question.

 

[Oracle]

They will never replace actual communication. This is shown by the fact that you are still considered a "nerd" or "unsocial" if you just spend all of your time on facebook. Besides, the media will always do a great job of convincing people the internet is evil

 

[Darxmarth23]

I would say that ever since we switched to the "new" facebook its starting to die down a bit. Back when it was for college students only and we had the old program, it was on fire. But now its just stalker central.

 

[AltF4]

Perhaps there are people who substitute social networking sites for traditional communication. (I wouldn't use your term of "real communication", however. It certainly is real.) But those I would imagine are in the minority.

Social networking fills a niche of communication that wasn't previously filled. It is slower and more cumbersome than talking and even IM'ing. But it's asynchronous (meaning both ends of the communication line don't have to be connected simultaneously) and it's persistent (there are lasting records, kind of like these forums.)

But what separates them from a simple forum like (like the smashboards) is the ability and focus on creating "networks". They encourage you to find groups of people with which to be friends, and then communicate with that underpinning. In general, you either have to already know the person you're talking to on a social networking site. (or know someone who knows someone, etc...) So the communication is more personal than a simple forum.

You are doing more than mere broadcasting, you are selectively mulitcasting to a known (or loosely defined) set of friends. And depending on your settings, you can do so confidentially. All, f course, from around the world.

What other communication medium allows you to do this? Mix all of this with it being easy to use, and you've got a hit.


So I wouldn't say that social networks will ever replace traditional communications. This is just an addition. And since it's relatively new, it's also very popular. As time goes by, expect the place and etiquette of social networks to become more defined. Just like email. A loosely defined criteria of what is and isn't socially and corporately acceptable via email is arising. Email did not "replace" normal communications. Neither will this.

 

[AltF4]

I would quote you, Del, but I can't. You Copyrighted your essay, and I wouldn't want to violate your Copyright. Perhaps you should look at copylefting your writings instead.


In both scenarios you listed, Del, the use of cell phones is what enabled that interaction to begin with. In a world without cell phones, the scenario would not have played out any better. All you are listing is a situation where cell phones failed to provide an optimal experience. Well what did you expect? Perfection every single time?

It's largely just a technological issue, anyway. Reception and ubiquity are improving constantly. Considering how young cell phone technology is, it won't be long before dead zones are all but gone.

...(unless you build your own Faraday Cage )

 

[Deleted member]

If neither party had a cell phone, they would have to try a lot harder to not be an ******* and stand the other up

Eliminating dead zones still doesn't counter the fact that not everyone keeps their phone on them at all times. The same for Facebook - I don't check that **** 24/7.

 

[DtJ Jungle]

I feel that a lot of people my age range (17-21) use facebook as the primary way of communication. In some cases it's good, I get to keep up with some classmates back at home while I'm at school in Florida. But I've also seen that sometimes its the only way to notify people of certain events, and sometimes people use it to invade your privacy. For example, I went out to lunch with a friend who visited me at school from home last week. She posted on my wall "thanks for lunch." I got several IM's since hten asking "she was in FL? what was she doing there? why did you meet her? you're friends with her?' I know this case isn't a big deal, but people can pretty much keep tabs on your life on facebook, and some people do, and its unhealthy.

tl;dr. People use facebook sometimes for the wrong things. It's cool to use to keep up with old friends, but now its being used for a primary source of communication. Not Cool. I miss getting letters.

 

[Xiivi]

I personally have no problem communicating with any of my friends in college, and I do not use Facebook or Myspace. I feel that you can easily function without them as well as without AIM/MSN/etc... and do fine socially in college/high school.

They are simply different forms of communication; and popular ones as well. However they are not a be all; end all for social communication. I still find manage to do fine keeping in contact with others with just cell phone communications and word of mouth. However, I do have to put more effort into my communications than someone using Facebook/Myspace would.

I think that might be the problem you have Darkurai. You have to actively find out about these social events if you don't find out about them with Facebook. It would still be possible for you to say "So what's going on this weekend?" to a friend and keep yourself in the loop. However this is less convenient for your end.

In the end, your communication is as good as you make it. You could be really good at staying in touch with people through only use of word of mouth. However this would take much more effort on your part. Whereas when you toss a cell phone, AIM, and facebook into the mix; it becomes significantly easier. I think the problem you are having to deal with is those that want to eliminate the other forms for Facebook. Which I doubt actually exist. It's simply their preferred method, although you could communicate in other ways, you'd just need to put forth the effort yourself.

 

[Proverbs]

I would have to agree that Facebook is growing to be something that is too necessary for communication. I, personally, don't have a facebook (unless someone made me one o_x;; ), and because of that I've been not invited to many events--or invited the day of. It's not because I'm not liked or anything--it's just that people assume everyone has facebook. But I hate how that's how everything works--all events are always posted on facebook, and typically aren't covered otherwise. Likewise, since I don't have a facebook with my birthday on there, no one remembers my birthday. And too often people just blame it on facebook. For me, it's a way of showing me who's a true friend. If someone's really interested in getting to know me or keeping up with me, they can give me a call or make plans to hang out with me--or they could at least e-mail me. But no, because I don't have facebook--people use that as an excuse not to get to know me.

How terrible is that? People who see me three times a week or more don't know me solely because I don't have a facebook. It's not like I can't speak English or something. I'm not disabled. And yet somehow people treat me as if I'm socially inept--well, it's not that bad, but it's sort of like an ongoing excuse people have. It's always "You should just get a facebook!" And I just say, "No."

The problem isn't that too many people are involved in Facebook: It's the fact that if you're not part of it, you're socially ignored. We've moved much of our communication to Facebook. Not just the internet itself, but just on one website. And without that, you're basically socially doomed. It will be at least 10x harder to really get involved socially, especially in college. If I wasn't part of my church, I would probably only have like three friends in college due to the lack of Facebook.

That's what frustrates me.

 

[Deleted member]

I would have to agree that Facebook is growing to be something that is too necessary for communication. I, personally, don't have a facebook (unless someone made me one o_x;; ), and because of that I've been not invited to many events--or invited the day of. It's not because I'm not liked or anything--it's just that people assume everyone has facebook. But I hate how that's how everything works--all events are always posted on facebook, and typically aren't covered otherwise. Likewise, since I don't have a facebook with my birthday on there, no one remembers my birthday. And too often people just blame it on facebook. For me, it's a way of showing me who's a true friend. If someone's really interested in getting to know me or keeping up with me, they can give me a call or make plans to hang out with me--or they could at least e-mail me. But no, because I don't have facebook--people use that as an excuse not to get to know me.

How terrible is that? People who see me three times a week or more don't know me solely because I don't have a facebook. It's not like I can't speak English or something. I'm not disabled. And yet somehow people treat me as if I'm socially inept--well, it's not that bad, but it's sort of like an ongoing excuse people have. It's always "You should just get a facebook!" And I just say, "No."


The problem isn't that too many people are involved in Facebook: It's the fact that if you're not part of it, you're socially ignored. We've moved much of our communication to Facebook. Not just the internet itself, but just on one website. And without that, you're basically socially doomed. It will be at least 10x harder to really get involved socially, especially in college. If I wasn't part of my church, I would probably only have like three friends in college due to the lack of Facebook.

That's what frustrates me.

Umm, no johns. It's incredibly easy (and free) to maintain a Facebook account. You can make an account and check it once a week and you'd be up to date on events. What's hilarious is that you could simply switch the word "Facebook" in your post to the word "telephone", "e-mail", or even "cell phone" and you'd still be whining, just in a different era.

Do you have a cell phone? I'd imagine so. I'm willing to say that cell phones and Facebook are nearly identical in terms of social scheduling..

 

[Proverbs]

Umm, no johns. It's incredibly easy (and free) to maintain a Facebook account. You can make an account and check it once a week and you'd be up to date on events. What's hilarious is that you could simply switch the word "Facebook" in your post to the word "telephone", "e-mail", or even "cell phone" and you'd still be whining, just in a different era.

Do you have a cell phone? I'd imagine so. I'm willing to say that cell phones and Facebook are nearly identical in terms of social scheduling..

No johns doesn't even apply here. I'm not really sure what you're trying to say. I refuse to get a Facebook because I'm making a statement. I personally think all it's done is help you maintain numerous shallow relationships as opposed to having a few deep ones. That's why I don't have a Facebook, because I want those deep relationships with the people who go the extra mile to get to know me (and don't just Facebook me or whatever). It shows who's really interested in getting to know me. If someone's not willing to put the extra effort in, they don't really want to be my friend, and I'm all right with that. Plus, I just hate fads. That's my thing, I defy pop culture.

And a cell phone is there because you can contact someone while they're not at their home (or in college, contact them period, unless you've got an apartment or are living at home). The thing is, someone can contact me just as easily with a phone as they can with Facebook. Just give a call--or text me for that matter (although I don't like texting either, but not nearly as opposed to it as Facebook).

I'm not 'whining' about the circumstance. I'm showing people that an entire person gets ignored by the majority of people because they don't follow the crowd. That's a problem when everyone is reliant on one website.

But the majority of it is: I just like being different from people. I'm all right with the friends I have, but I'm not all right with the atmosphere that Facebook has created.

Anyway, it seems like you're frustrated with me for some unknown reason, but I won't take offense.

 

[Deleted member]

Well, I'm not angry or frustrated, I just think you're being overly self-righteous. Basically, no one gives a **** if you have a Facebook account or not. It's like not voting in an election - your little "stand" gets ignored. There's nothing to be proud of by not having an account.

And trust me, Facebook relationships can be incredibly shallow, but that doesn't mean it's not a useful utility. Oddly enough, I rarely talk to my best friends on Facebook.

 

[illinialex24]

I think the scary part of how prominent it is becoming is that it is getting adopted by the older generation. It is creepy when people your parents generation and your parents start making Facebook's and expect you to friend them when you use it as a personal communication tool.

I know countless friends who have had issues with their parents because they said they would not friend them or were almost forced to do so. I think Facebook should find a way to friend people but completely restrict access to posts by certain users. So your friends can't see what your parents post at all without knowing it and they can't see what your parents post.

 

[Ham Enterprises]

I agree that alot of people are using Facebook as their main form of communication.
(I sorry if this offends anybody) Facebook doesn't even accomplish anything, it is rather a stupid concept, if you want to talk to somebody, then just talk to them. And though this is not much better, Aim is much better than facebook because you are communicating directly.

 

[manhunter098]

Social networking sites (in general) offer an array of options for communication that simply would not exist otherwise, and its not the same as talking to people or using AIM because its supposed to offer an indirect means of communicating and sharing fun things. Not to mention creating groups, which is INCREDIBLY useful, especially for organizing events and getting attendance for a variety of things from parties to protests.

Facebook offers an interface that is easy to use and full of tools that facilitate simple communication that doesnt really need to be done when speaking.


There is a reason so many people are using Facebook, and there is a reason why older people are even starting to use it, it is just incredibly useful.

 

[Crimson King]

One thing that I think is interesting (and if it has been covered, my bad, I missed it), but companies will google your name to get your myspace/facebook. My tech writing teacher made this comment in a class, and people laughed it off. The next day she had a list of things that people had on their profiles (with no names) that could get them fired or denied employment.

What are people's thoughts on this, that employers use social networks as a method to determine if you are the right fit or not?

 

[Jam Stunna]

Facebook is public information. I don't see why anyone would be surprised that employers are looking up readily accessible, self-published information about potential employees.

Too many people approach the internet as if it's a journal or a diary to put every detail of your life on. If you wouldn't write it down on a piece of paper and hand it to a stranger, don't put it on the internet. If you wouldn't want people making copies of a picture someone took of you, don't put it on the internet. The web is a public place, and you have to assume that once you put something there, it's there forever for anyone, anywhere to see.

 

[pockyD]

I agree; people who put "incriminating" or potentially self-destructive information on a public website are really just begging to be punished for it... I personally wouldn't find that very much different from a potential employer perhaps finding old newspaper articles you wrote/were quoted in

I personally never really got into the facebook fad; I used it at the very start to occasionally get people's contact information, but that's it. Quite frankly, I never really cared what other people were doing, especially if they were doing something that was close enough to the computer that they would bother to update their information on the spot, and I assumed others wouldn't care about me in the same manner. I realize that nowadays with being able to do updates remotely from your phone, whatever certainly expands the breadth of things you could be doing at the moment, but it really doesn't make me care any more than I used to... if it was truly relevant to me, the person would have called me directly

I don't know if this has been mentioned (I last read this thread a few weeks ago), but really, facebook in its current incarnation just serves to feed peoples' narcissistic needs and tendencies... the reliance upon and excessive use of it is more indicative of peoples' desire to be noticed than anything else

It really is an amazing piece of software though