Ever since its creation only six years ago in 2004, Facebook has had an enormous impact on modern society. It has changed the way millions communicate and go about their daily lives. There are many positive things that have come from the Facebook craze that seems to have taken over our country.
One obvious good thing that Facebook allows people to do is easily communicate with friends they already know in real life. Since everyone’s username is their real name, it is extremely easy to find your friends and start commenting on their statuses, writing on their “walls,” and, of course, “poking” them. Facebook is a more convenient form of communication than email because it is less formal and you can easily send a message to someone without knowing their email address. Another benefit of Facebook is the ability to learn all about what’s going on in your friend’s lives through status updates, pictures, links and notes they post to their profiles. You can also see the mini biographies they create that include information such as where they work, their interests, and their political preferences. Facebook makes all this information easily accessible to anyone you are friends with, which can be very convenient. Another big draw Facebook has is the opportunity to meet new friends you would not otherwise ever meet. It allows you to get to know new people who share an interest, location, job, or perhaps nothing at all with you. I personally do not use Facebook this way, but I can understand how someone looking to make new friends might find this method very appealing.
Although Facebook has many positive elements that can enrich our lives when utilized, it, like any new technology, has its downsides. One of the most criticized negatives of Facebook is its lack of privacy. Once you’ve accepted someone’s friend request, they instantly have access to your email, gender, birthday, address, phone number, and whatever else you choose to post. Though there are many settings and safeguards users can put in place to help keep their most personal information hidden from unwanted eyes, the majority of people aren’t nearly as careful as they should be about protecting this information. This can become a serious issue when people accept friend requests from users they do not already know. These users then have access to a plethora of information that could be used in ways that would be very harmful to the person being stalked.
A second major negative to Facebook is the ability people have to lie through it. Although meeting new people in a safe manner can be beneficial and fun, it is far too easy to fabricate the information you put on your profile. Joe Smith, another 18 year old from across town who also likes classical music, might really be Ebenezer Sloan, a 58 year old predator using Facebook to meet high school girls. It is impossible to tell if someone is faking a profile or not, which can make online friend-finding very dangerous.
Overall, I believe Facebook is a good thing and a very convenient new technology. It makes it easy for me to chat with my friends, both close to home and in other countries, and see what’s going on in their lives. However, like any complex new technology, Facebook needs to be used in a smart and careful way to avoid its potential dangers. If used in a safe way, Facebook can enrich one’s life tremendously.
