The internet is a powerful source of all types of information, sources, companies, and products. Through the past few decades the internet has grown immensely and continues to grow exponentially each day. With a huge playing field to browse from, the internet provides numerous opportunities to learn, watch, and read. However, how we use the internet is another question. There is a plethora of sites and web spaces that serve as a so called “evil” that spread viruses or gossip that can be consumed by the computer user. Which poses a bigger question: Are social networking sites, like Facebook, “evil” or are they just a way to stay connected with friends in high school, college, and when you move into the workspace? Does it all depend on the user of computer? These questions are being debated all the time with clear reasons for each.
Facebook originally started as a source for college students to meet and they were restricted to their own campus, but quickly Facebook made it possible for high school networks and eventually whoever else wanted to have their own page. Facebook contains its own email system, instant messaging, picture folders, video folders, and the ability to embed links to other sites that the user is able to choose. Also, the most important program is the friend finder, which you can find your friends or even block friends.
Facebook features plenty of advertisements and addicting games that can also hook the individual to stay on the site for longer. Facebook is not alone. Myspace is a close relative of Facebook and contains most of the features of it. Others social networking sites have various of the same features and ideas. For the post, I am going to be referring to Facebook because it seems to be the most popular social networking site presently.
Facebook is a great representation of our rights according to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. With the ability to write or show whatever you would like, through the site, it gives the user the ultimate power in any way that they see fit. The average person may use the Facebook for the purposes that it was designed for, but others can use it to harass or bully people that they know. Sending messages through the internet, with the intent of hurting another, physically or emotionally, is known as cyber-bullying. Obviously cyber-bullying has only been in existence since the start of the World Wide Web, but it is very prominent in today’s culture.
Cyber-bullying is more commonly found on Facebook than other social networking sites and has caused many different events and lawsuits. Cyber-bullying can be found in high schools and colleges all around the world. Even when the individual, that is being provoked, leaves school to go home, they still are accessible through the web to be bullied. An example of a cyber-bullying situation had hit South Hadley, Massachusetts in 2010. Phoebe Prince, who had emigrated from Ireland, had been harassed on Facebook in which drove her to commit suicide. Nine different teens were charged with a different array of things in relation to the suicide. Phoebe Prince is not the only one to have committed suicide from cyber-bullying. Plenty of other suicide cases point to bullying in school and cyber-bullying.
With all the features that Facebook provides, millions and millions of people have joined. Many play the popular games and join the same popular groups that ultimately link each other together. Does this take away from originality? I think so because you can only do so much on Facebook until you are restricted and you can almost bet on have the same sort of page as another in the world. However, how the individual uses their page in terms of pictures, videos, and what they right does give the individual some kind of identity. Even though you can express your individuality, the limitations of Facebook keep stuck at a certain point and you feel trapped and addicted to a web page.
“Personal space” is also another idea that is impeded on with Facebook. They do try their best by providing a very advanced security system that can block certain people and groups from seeing your pictures, videos, wall posts, or even your entire profile. However, some people do not realize that they have such options and they are completely open to the public. Your identity is completely open for others to access and your privacy is totally invaded. Are social networking sites conforming society? Yes, with sharing of information and the ability to find anyone, Facebook and other sites like it have turned the users into clone-like humanoids.
Brett believes that Facebook makes users conform and limits their individuality because they are restricted to the webpage. He talks about how Facebook was used to cyber-bully, or harass others online through their Facebook page. This shows that he thought about the negative aspects of having a Facebook. Personal space is not lost on Facebook because of the ability to set your privacy settings. He also states that social networking sites conform society because we all have this extention of ourselves out in cyber space.
ReplyDeleteI wrote on the same topic you did, and I agree with a lot of what you said. When Facebook started, it was only created for college students, and has since grown to be one of the most popular social networking sites in the world. Not only are college students on the website, but most highschoolers and even elementary school children and parents are on the network now too. With all these people on this website, there is most definatley a loss of privacy and identity. But, in my blog posting, I did argue the fact that ALTHOUGH you definatley do lose some of your privacy, you are choosing to do so. You can post what you want to post, and share what you want to share. It is up to you how much privacy you may or may not lose. We, as a society, are definatley conforming by sharing our information with the world though. I never even thought of the whole cyber-bullying aspect as well. That was a good point and example you brought up because it proves the fact that you can write and say whatever you want,whether it be good or bad. You argued that Facebook can take away from originality. I do not necessarily agree with that. Although all the layouts for Facebook are the typical white background with the blue bar across the top, you are able to make your page more original by the pictures you post,the pages you "like", that bands, movies, and television shows that interest you, the quotes you have, your about me, your videos, your statues, so on and so forth. Although, you can't make your own background, and layout your page as you so please, like Myspace or Twitter or Blogspot, there are other ways to show your originality.
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