If there's one thing that defines our current generation, it would have to be Facebook. All around the world, first-time acquaintances are exchanging "Facebook-me's" and we can probably all remember the tons of friend requests we sent and received at the beginning of each semester. Facebook statistics show that over 500 million people have an active Facebook account, and the average user spends about 700 million minutes logged on each month (Facebook.com).
Obviously, we probably spend every day on Facebook. Now with mobile Facebook access, it's easier than ever to check your notifications and post a few comments in even the quickest amount of time. Using Facebook every day is fun and sparks new friendships every day, but what other impacts does using Facebook so often have on our everyday lives?
It's interesting to observe the relationships we have on Facebook as opposed to the relationships we have in "real life." There are lots of times that we talk to people online that we never do or would face-to-face. Whether we mean to or not, we find talking over Facebook much easier and comfortable than actually confronted each other. I believe this could be a negative thing. I feel that major social networking sites like Facebook are ruining our social skills. Sure, we gain new "friends" every day and often communicate with them online, but we aren't learning to really connect with them. Our social skills are being brought down by trading the amount of time we spend getting to know each other face-to-face for time that we spend typing messages to each other. First it was the introduction of text messaging that made it harder for the upcoming generation to learn proper telecommunication skills, and now networkings like Facebook are taking over our abilities to be good at really socializing.
I, myself, am always on Facebook and have even encountered those awkward "seeing someone out in public that you only talk to on Facebook" times. It makes me wonder the future of socializing holds for our generation and the ones to come after. Oh yeah, and be sure to click like and share with all your friends on Facebook! ;)
Photo from getsatisfaction.com.
Dear Molly,
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my favorite blog posts to read because it really hit home. I am not a huge Facebook visitor, but I do spend some amount of time on there each day. It really does show that there is a weakening in social skills. I have even noticed this some in my own life.
“Facebook statistics show that over 500 million people have an active Facebook account, and the average user spends about 700 million minutes logged on each month (Facebook.com).” This statistic is ridiculous. I would have never imagined that there were this many Facebook users and that they spend this many minutes each month. I doubt that I spend this much time on there but then again when I am on there I tend to lose track of time.
“I feel that major social networking sites like Facebook are ruining our social skills.” I could not agree more with this quote. I absolutely can see this happening in the world today. More people are talking through Facebook than face to face and struggle with socializing issues. Like you said in this blog, I will also talk to people on Facebook that I would not talk to in person.
Thank you so much for writing this blog post about Facebook. This is very important for young children and teens to know that this is dangerous for their social life. I will continue to read your very interesting blogs.
Sincerely,
Bluebird
Dear Molly,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I love the title of your blog and all your posts are really good! This one stood out since obviously I am indeed a facebook addict.
"I, myself, am always on Facebook and have even encountered those awkward "seeing someone out in public that you only talk to on Facebook" times." I love this sentence! My friend and I were just talking about having those sort of moments. It's always nice to know that you're not alone.
"All around the world, first-time acquaintances are exchanging "Facebook-me's...'" This is definitely a true statement! I have one friend in particular that to whoever she might meet, this is her go-to goodbye for that person. It's crazy that at least 88% of our communication is done through facebook.
Thank you so much for writing this. It was a fantastic post!
Bonobo
Dear Molly,
ReplyDeleteOh Facebook. Everybody is always on Facebook all the time which makes it a very appealing subject to people today of every age.
I totally loved the picture! It was so eye catching and creative and definitely added to the post. If there was actually a river of status updates...oh my!
I totally agree with you about the future of hand holding. It's so awkward when you see people you only talk to on Facebook...it's even more awkward when you see people you flirt with! Our poor future generations are going to have Facebook relationships :/
I loved your blog and how relevant it is to today! Thanks for writing
Cardinal
Dear Molly,
ReplyDeleteThis blog is really interesting to me because that picture is really cool. I have a Facebook but I'm not on it a lot cause i don't really like reading about all the drama going on in peoples lives. Everybody is on Facebook and everybody is always on it. My girlfriend has a Facebook and she is always on it.
This whole blog really has an interesting topic as a whole. "Sure, we gain new "friends" every day and often communicate with them online, but we aren't learning to really connect with them." This statement stood out to me because it is very true. People do lose how to connect with people when they meet other people online.
Sincerely,
Collard Dove
Dear Molly,
ReplyDeleteFacebook has become a huge things, especially for the younger generations. I probably couldn't name five people that I know that didn't have a Facebook and it's definitely hurting our social skills like you suggested. I have definitely met people and we instantly add each other on it from our phones.
I like how you pointed out that while we are making friends, we aren't necessarily connecting with them, so it pushed it to the next level of are they true friends or not? I mean we should be able to see someone in person that we've had tons of conversations online with and it not be awkward, but it is and that's what our society has come to.
I agree completely that it's hurting us socially because we aren't having face to face connections. We are having conversations but gaining no experience from them. We are reading words offline not actually hearing how someone might say something and get to see their reaction.
Overall, nice blog.
Grackle
Dear Molly,
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a wonderful post. You are so right about how our social skills are getting worse.
What caught my attention was when you said that now our relationships are different and that when you usually meet or see that person you really have nothing to say. But when you get on FB then you have the longest conversations.
I agree that our social skills are the worst now because of all the social networking online. I myself have gone through the "we talk all the time on FB but in person we have nothing to say" experience.
I loved this post. It really made me wonder what our future generations are going to go through.
Aadavark
Dear Molly,
ReplyDeleteWhen I first looked at this post I thought that it was going to be about Facebook becoming a corporation or City. But besides that I was still happy that i read the post.
Sadly i do not agree with this statement "I feel that major social networking sites like Facebook are ruining our social skills." Although some people don't have a life outside of Facebook it doesn't mean it's ruined our social skills. Most people just don't have enough guts or courage to actually go through with something. As humans we sometimes get nervous and just assume that we aren't very good with socializing.
I've never actually had that awkward Facebook moment. Usually the people that are my friends on Facebook are people that i see a lot and talk to. I consider Facebook to be a happy medium in case they are to busy to meet up and talk.
I'm glad to have read this post. Although i didn't agree with a few of the things written in it, it was still a good read. Hopefully you will have a lot more interesting topics where that came from.
Sincerely,
Klipspringer