The most pernicious effect of Facebook is that it is a forum that encourages narcissism, anonymity and social irresponsibility. But it masks all of these effects by allowing people to fool themselves into thinking that they are "keeping in touch with others."
Here is how it works. The page that you see after initially logging in is the page that shows all the other posts made by your other friends. And the content of these posts? All about ME. The definition of narcissism. And they are usually fatuous entries if they aren't photos. About people drinking coffee at that moment. Or about how they just got into work and they must prepare for the games, or some stupid entry. Entries that used to be part of one's diary. As in, a venue that was private.But now? You can publish those thoughts! You can feel that your pathetic thoughts are witty! You're so "avante garde" and "cutting edge" and all those things you really are not. Because other people are reading these insignificant posts.
Then there is the ability to read other people's posts and think, "Gee, I know what so-and-so isdoing right now." You don't, really, because usually the content of these posts is unsubstantive and silly, but you can pretend that you know. And hey, you know they use Facebook a lot, just like you, so there is that knowledge.
The effect of logging in to Facebook to "find out what others are up to" is that you never actually have to communicate with those people on your friends list. It takes a lot of times less time to email a quick note. Not a phone call, no, just a quick email. Because the amount of time people spend self-aggrandizing themselves using Facebook in order to make themselves appear more cool and witty is much longer than they would sending a quick email. But they never do. Because they console themselves with the thought that they are really keeping in touch with their friends and their friends are also in touch with them, via these stupid posts that say nothing substantive.
What a great tool.
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