COLUMN: Facebook: The game changes and redefines relationships

September 7, 2011 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events

Facebook is the epitome of social networking and home to millions of users around the world of all ages, backgrounds, and pursuits. But is Facebook something more than simply a popular social networking site?

Following its release in 2004, Facebook has rapidly become part of daily life, pervading nearly every aspect of society. Though often overlooked, Facebook has become a source of “truth” on which its users rely, a reflection of reality where life beyond the computer is defined by status updates, info boxes, liking, poking, and the many other features of the multi-faceted site.

To follow are but a few of the many ways in which Facebook has radically altered society and social networking since its creation; changes that have so blended into society the ridiculousness of their nature has been adopted as custom and embraced by societal acclamation:

•The definition of relationship, or lack thereof, by a status box featured on Facebook users’ profiles. Note the absurdity of making “official” a relationship by changing the drop box on one’s personalized page to declare to the world one’s status as “in a relationship,” “single,” or “it’s complicated” (among many other options) versus in person; an absurdity now widely accepted as a societal custom.

•The definition of friendship, or lack thereof, by the confirmation or purposed ignorance of a “friend request” or, similarly, the determination of a person’s popularity by the number of “Facebook friends” a person has. Personally, I have over 400 “friends” according to Facebook; however, ask me in person how many friends I have and I’ll more than likely respond, “eh, maybe 30.”

•Technological design placing Facebook accessibility as a design priority. For example, should a phone not have the “Facebook app,” or at the very least a web connection to access Facebook, toss it out, it’s but a useless calling machine with a pretty touch screen. Even automobile technology must now accommodate Facebook, in fact a newly released Chevy features an auditory status update feed for owners.

•The professional and business public relations industry. The official tech savvy venue for a business or professional is no longer a well-designed and functional website, but rather a Facebook page with minimal information and an oft clicked “Like” button.

•Pervasion of sanctuaries of academia. Libraries have even turned from homes of the great literates of history to Facebook procrastination stations with Facebook friendly computers at nearly every table.

Indeed Facebook has radically changed society in many ways. Thus, I question: when will modern society realize the ridiculousness of the overarching societal rule of Facebook? Will society ever return to its pre-Facebook days, wherein relationships were defined by more than a status box, friends by time spent together rather than by a mutual clicking of buttons, and people interacted face-to-face versus the cyber portal of likes, posts, and status updates that composes the world of Facebook.

If so, when?

Jake B. Vermillion is a South Walton native and regular contributor to The Walton Sun.