Facebook, Twitter leading to identity crises

A leading scientist has indicated that social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have created a generation obsessed with themselves, who have short attention spans and a childlike desire for constant feedback on their lives.
Baroness Greenfield, professor of pharmacology at Oxford

University, believes the growth of Internet “friendships” – as well as greater use of computer games – could effectively “rewire” the brain.

This can result in reduced concentration, a need for instant gratification and poor non-verbal skills, such as the ability to make eye contact during conversations.

“What concerns me is the banality of so much that goes out on Twitter,” the Daily Mail quoted Baroness Greenfield, former director of research body the Royal Institution, as saying.

“Why should someone be interested in what someone else has had for breakfast? It reminds me of a small child (saying): “Look at me Mummy, I”m doing this”, “Look at me Mummy I”m doing that”.

“It”s almost as if they’re in some kind of identity crisis. In a sense it’s keeping the brain in a sort of time warp,” Greenfield added.

The academic suggested that some Facebook users feel the need to become “mini celebrities” who are watched and admired by others on a daily basis.

They do things that are “Facebook worthy” because the only way they can define themselves is by “people knowing about them”.

“It”s almost as if people are living in a world that”s not a real world, but a world where what counts is what people think of you or (if they) can click on you,” she added.

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Jackass films to be rented on social media network Facebook

The Jackass films are the latest to be made available to hire through social network Facebook. Warner Brothers were the first major movie studio to offer their films for hire through the popular social network, now Paramount Pictures want to get a slice of the online hire action and have decided to release their franchise of the Jackass movies on Facebook in the US.

The entire series of Jackass movies will be available to hire through Facebook. The earlier titles such as Jackass The Movie, Jackass2, will be less expensive to hire at $2.99 while the more recent movies such as Jackass3 and Jackass 3.5 will be $3.99 to hire for 48 hours. In addition to the main films, the digital features that are Jackass 2.5 and Jackass 3.5 will also be made available to hire on Facebook.

At present, the Jackass titles will only be available to hire through Facebook for members in the US. Members will pay for their rentals using pre-paid for Facebook credits. Once they’re hired their chosen title, they will have 48 hours in which to watch the movie.

Anything for Hire News reported last month how the popular BBC television series, Doctor Who, has also released a number of classic episodes and more recent series for hire through Facebook. In March of this year Warner Brother was one of the first to offer films for hire through a social networking page when they allowed Facebook users to rent The Dark Knight online.

The movie industry hopes online rentals through social media will help compensate for the decline in DVD and video sales.

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