Can I get a Large Facebook with a Side of Twitter?

(DISCLAIMER: BLOGS REFLECT IBIS DEL MAR'S PERSONAL VIEWS & IDEAS SO KEEP THAT IN MIND.)

First things first, how many social networks are you a part of? Now, how many minutes/hours do you suppose you spend daily checking these? Do you have these networks downloaded onto your phone? I, for one, probably spend way too much of my time checking these networks. The other day I was looking at my Facebook Homepage and clicked into the section where people’s status updates appear. As I quickly scanned down the page, I began to burst out laughing… Why? Because this girl from my High School (whom I hardly spoke to then but now could probably give you a pretty decent synopsis of her life) had updated her status to a severely passive aggressive comment that was obviously directed at her recently status-changed-ex-boyfriend. To clarify, I was not laughing at her situation but instead, at the fact that due to her recent “Relationship Status” change and current “Status Update” I knew exactly what was going on. Mind you, we’ve probably shared a paragraph in real life. As I was jotting down things for this Blog I felt as if everywhere I went the phrases “Facebook me,” “tag me,” “What’s the deal with Twitter?,” “MySpace page” were inescapable. Some of the most common lines I’ve heard or have personally said myself:

1. “I had to get off because I felt like I knew more about people than I needed to”

2. “I just de-activated my account because I started to get creeped out that while I am out at the bar, people’s intro line talked about pictures I recently posted”
3. “Don’t forget to tag me”
4. “Facebook worthy” (in reference to a picture)
5. “My next profile pic” (in reference to a picture)
6. “Did you know that ____________ got engaged? Broke up? Are “officially” together?”

So here’s what I was thinking…Facebook/MySpace/etc. began as a great way to stay in touch with old friends. It’s an easy way to shoot someone a line to see how they are doing and maintain connection. But when did this all change to becoming a replacement for actual interaction, phone calls, cards, etc. 

In my opinion, social networks have become our fast food equivalent for human interaction. More and more, it seems that plans are made over these networks rather than over the phone, or let’s get nutty here, in person. Inboxes are filled with messages instead of our actual mailboxes or voicemails for that matter. “Happy birthday” wall posts have become acceptable signs of remembering a friend’s birthday, etc. I’ve even begun to wonder what people used to do during the day at work pre-social network days (which in itself is ridiculous because we should probably be working, lol). Granted it’s been a process…. Remember when we used to work on our AOL profiles? Clever little things such as, “yes, please” would follow the line where you were supposed to put your sex (male/female). Then we had AIM profiles where it became very cool to put links that led people to pictures and in the meantime, you could see who was looking at your link (I think this is where our borderline-stalking tendencies began, lol). Let’s speed up and move on up to where we find ourselves today…. The age of Facebook (and by Facebook I am basically referring to all the networks but it’s annoying to type all the names time and time again)

Ok so how many of us are like the following??? Half the time we’re on Facebook we browse our best friends’ pages (which is pointless because we spend 99.9% of our time together and there’s probably nothing there we don’t already know). During peak boredom moments (particularly during work/study hours) we peak over to our “Cry for attention” frienemies….I know we ALL have them…. I call it the “Viral Napoleon Complex (VNC)” because it’s as if these networks have become a medium to “publicize our super interesting lives”. I must admit, it’s a guilty pleasure for me because (and I am really working on this because it really isn’t right) I just look at certain pages and literally laugh out loud (not just LOL, but like legit LAUGH). Just from seeing wall posts and statuses you can feeeeel the drama…. It’s like ‘One Life To Live’ gone bad. Let’s be frank, it’s truly like watching a train wreck…. You can’t help but feel guilty but you just gotta look.

Now, there is also the infamous RELATIONSHIP STATUS issues we see day in and day out. Ok, let’s be honest, do you REEEEALLY care if some random person you NEVER speak to changes it to “in a relationship”?← which in itself is funny. How many times do you hear people talk about “so & so” being to-

gether and half the time they’re being talked about, the comments are negative? Why do we put ourselves out there like that? Granted, I understand the whole “let’s run to the roof tops and scream that we’re so in love” but really? (And, I too, have been guilty of this so bare with me). I like to think that we are wise enough to know that aside from those that truly care for us, there is a lot of negative energy floating around out there and since misery loves company, by exposing your life like this you become just another bird to knock down with huge rocks. Whether it’s a conversation about how “cheesy” you and your significant other are or regarding “everything you don’t know about your significant other but everyone else does” it’s all pretty dark stuff. Even worse, how many of you have been the actual person involved in a difficult break-up and Facebook becomes what I like to call a “gift from the Devil”? Let me explain, (and I’ve discussed this with both men and women so just go with it) at first during the initial part of the break-up, Facebook is okay because it allows you to “keep in touch” and be civil (at least that’s what you tell yourself). Then, one person in the relationship is (or at least pretending to) moving on faster than the other and of course, this is very public to the Facebook community…. (SIDENOTE: Let’s be honest, how representative are photos posted on these networks? Because I don’t recall moments of utter sadness when a friend hops over to me and and joyfully says, “this is your new default.” Pictures tend to captivate those sublime moments. Even if someone was just having a screaming fight, for the second that flash is blinding you, a smile appears.) Anyway, once one of the parties in the ex-relationship seems to be having “too” much of a good time, the other either takes him/herself off Facebook (at least for a few days), de-friends the significant other or if you’re really angry, block them. 

Also, there’s the proverbial “I’m-not-on-facebook-but-I-go-on-under-my-friends’-accounts” friend. They are the sneaky ones that know everything about everyone but were smart enough not to actually open up an account and become open to public scrutiny.

Moreover, why do you think  magazines like US Weekly and InTouch fly off the counters?? I can assure you it’s not because of the peace and love stories but instead, the dramatic break-ups, plastic surgeries, feuds, etc. So, is it fair to say that Facebook has become the US Weekly of the average American? Frankly, the networks have almost become a “step-by-step” guide to people’s lives. Twitter, for instance, is the epitome of ridiculousness…. 24/7 status updates. Why in the world do we need to be up to speed on when someone “goes to the bathroom,” “sleeps,” etc? Yet, out of simple boredom, we join. (For the past few days I’ve been without Facebook, I’ve become quite the little tweeter, lol)

Now, I ask you? Where does it stop? When do we say…. Alright, enough is enough. I want to get back to pre-social-media-inundation days.

Next, I will post a few scenarios and I recommend that if you can say “yes” to the majority of these you look into some Facebook Rehab:

DO YOU:
1. Have Facebook/Myspace/Hi5/etc application on your phone?
2. Check your Facebook on your phone while hanging out with friends at a bar/restaurant/date/etc ?

3. Discuss social networks as part of regular conversations?
4. Check Facebook immediately following brushing your teeth in the morning?
5. Use social networks as the only medium to actually remember friends’ birthdays?
6. Go on friends accounts to check people’s profiles that are not in your circle or network?
7. Have E-Mails sent directly to your phone to notify you of everything that’s going on in your account (because notifications aren’t simply enough!)
8. Spend at least ½ of your day of work signed on?
9. Not recall what your life was like before social networks became popular?
10. Have over 50 photo albums?

Finally, I totally understand all of the upsides to this technology but I am just noting that it may be tough these days but I do feel it’s important to maintain close ‘face-to-face’ contact with our friends instead of just using technology. We are lucky enough to HAVE the ability to spend actual time with one another and it’s time we remember to take advantage of that. Let's try to lay off the Facebook/MySpace/Twitter/Hi5. I think that if we consume in moderation I believe we will begin to see great results! =)

One more thing….. Close this Blog and GET BACK TO WORK! Haha jk! ;)

SIDENOTE: Last week I had to designate my best friend, Megz, as my “gatekeeper” prohibiting me from checking the account until I finished some important work for school. I guess I needed an “intervention” in order to stop using Facebook. LOL

Until next time, may you enjoy every day of your life!

Faith, Hope, & Love,

Ibis

Currently Listening to: "Online" by Brad Paisley