FACEBOOK "disasters"! The pros (and mostly cons) of social networks

Like everything else in this world, there are always positives and negatives. With Facebook however, some of the negatives can be dangerous. “The power of social networks like Facebook comes from the ability to quickly share information about your life with other people. But along with that ability comes the risk of sharing sensitive information with the wrong people, and that risk increases as your network grows well beyond your core circle of friends (Null).”

Since Facebook allows users to post personal information, sometimes users get carried away and put too much information. This makes it easier for people to stalk other people. This may include creepy daters out on the look for younger females, or criminals themselves trying to cook up a crime.

About five years ago one of my older brother’s friends added me on facebook. I didn’t know him that well, but I did remember him. We started Facebook chatting almost everyday and became really good friends. Till this day he is one of my best guy friends who I talk to on the phone for hours.

Also, during my first semester of college this summer I met a lot of different people who then added me on Facebook. Even though I had their phone numbers, I would have never talked to them again if it weren't for Facebook. Chatting on Facebook allows one to get to know other people better without worrying about awkward silences, or face to face first impressions. This is especially great for people who are shy because it allows them to sort of break the ice at the beginning of a friendship.

For some reason, people have more courage to discuss or say things through Facebook than they do in real life, which is a quick way to start drama or conflicts with other people. Since almost everything on Facebook is pretty much public, meaning that everyone can see what goes on, it makes it easier for people to know about one's daily occurrences. Either way, it helps people talk things out without getting physical. Through this aspect it is beneficial, as it may help users with their problem solving abilities. While using Facebook, users should keep in mind “the golden rule of all social networks: Never forget that the whole world is watching (Null).”

Recently one of my cousins in Colombia got in huge trouble for a video that was posted by one of her friends, in which she was tagged. The drinking age in Colombia is 18 and she is 19, but her family didn’t know that she drank. The video her friend posted was of them acting “drunk,” according to family members who saw it. It all turned into a huge dilemma because one of my aunts in the U.S. was sending my cousins family money because they were going through a rough time. After watching the video however, it made my aunt wonder what they were spending her money on, to help pay rent or for my cousin to waste it on alcohol? Either way, my aunt threatened to stop giving them funds. My cousin felt horrible about the whole situation, while her parents felt ashamed. This is just one example of how a harmless video posted on Facebook can cause huge problems.

There are many common Facebook "Disasters" such as relationships being broken due to rumors or pictures posted, people getting in trouble at work for playing hooky, and people being stocked. Not only do statuses and too much personal information posted on Facebook get users in trouble, but so do videos and pictures. Facebook users get carried away and sometimes upload inappropriate pictures and videos and even end up tagging themselves.

For example, one of my good friends was dumped by her boyfriend when he saw some pictures of her and another guy. Even though they were just friends, her boyfriend was the jealous type and had already warned her to not hang out with him. She did anyway, considering nothing was going on between them, but her best friend posted the pictures without knowing the situation. Little do people remember that their boss, coworkers, family, teachers, younger siblings, or parents might see posts! Other times it’s not the user himself or herself, but other people who tagged them without realizing the trouble that person could get in. (Uh oh, someone shared a little too much information with the world) This may be a common mistake Facebook user’s commit, which can lead to many other Facebook disasters, so be careful Facebook users!

Are the benefits of Facebook worth the consequences?

Even though Facebook is a great way to communicate almost instantly, it does have its consequences. Now a day’s people aren’t communicating as they would before Facebook came around. Instead of making a phone call or meeting up with someone, people are just relying on technology and facebooking each other. In a way this makes people shy and less personal.

Individuals are now replacing real human interaction with online interaction. “Skeptics often suggest that online social networks foster introverted, anti-social behavior—that we forge virtual connections at the expense of real-life connections” (Manjoo). This can be a problem because non-verbal communication is being lost, which can be crucial for comfort and emotional support in certain situations.

Also, by losing non-verbal communication, it makes it more and more difficult to communicate. This is because facial expressions help get the point across when one is talking or explaining something. It especially helps when one is stuck when expressing one's self.

Do you think Facebook is worth your time?