I believe that the primary problem with Facebook is an ethic of quantity rather than quality. It is about how many friends (really acquiantances) that we have, and how many things that we do. The nature of the beast encourages us to engage in superfluous relationships and activity, pushing us to look good in a purely topical fashion so that we can attract yet more Facebook "friends". Because the business model of Facebook depends upon driving more members, views, and touches--all in the pursuit of maximal advertising revenue--it is anathema to authenticity. Isn't it the absence of authenticity that makes girls' relationships go awry in the first place?

What about an online tool with an interface that facilitates relevant, deeper communication? Could we create an online atmosphere that guides us to safely communicate about the things that matter--who we really are, who we strive to be, what we treasure, what we hope to change in the world? Such a tool could make our relationships so much richer by providing a framework for conscious and thoughtful expression of what is really happening in our minds and in our lives.

Before I actually participated in social media I was disdainful, assuming people used it as a substitute for REAL communication and connection. How wrong I was! Facebook keeps me in touch with people I love, like or once liked in ways I never imagined. My husband's cousins, as close to me as my own, live all around the country. When we had a family reunion last summer the time together was so sweet--the bonds were fresh, as we were all up on each others' lives and felt closer than ever as soon as we assembled.

I have to say--it does freak me out though when I run into a neighbor at the grocery store who asks if I'm feeling better or someone I work with says something about my latest blog post. HOW DO THEY KNOW? I ask myself every time, then remember I put something in my status update. So I really never do post anytihng without considering whether I want to whole world to see it...

I am someone who has never created a facebook profile, and at times it leaves me feeling left out.  When Simone got a dog, many of my friends talked about seeing pics on FB.  New babies, posts about random events during the day.... FB lets people in my social circle keep each other updated on all kinds of things, and sometimes it feels like they have a private joke.  The strangest occurrences are when my friends know things about my siblings that I don't know because they are "friends" on FB.

I don't think FB is all bad.  In theory, being able to keep up with friends, connect with old acquaintances, and make each other laugh throughout the day sounds great.  It's almost as if everyone lived and worked in one labyrinthine building, but we kept passing each other throughout the day so we could get a hello and a one second update.  We'd never really be close, but we'd feel that we were in touch.  I know many folks who do feel closer to friends and family through FB, and others who have found old flames, who then became current loves.

Every time I consider joining up, I think of how little time I have in the day already, and how many things I want or need to do.  Perhaps others are better than I at blocking at distractions, but I have to be extremely choosy about any activities I choose to participate in, otherwise I risk sacrificing something that is important to me and my well-being - like writing, exercising, or sleeping - for something that is fun in the moment, but has little lasting impact.  Until I feel otherwise, I think I'll abstain.

i love this post, loonin, and i hope other people start to realize how much facebook really is taking over society. (dun dun dun dun...)
i am recently off of facebook for multiple reasons, some of which relate to this post:
-i spent too much time online. i would just sit there mindlessly looking at the profiles of friends-of-friends-of-friends, while knowing i had a project due in a couple of days, but i'd choose to be pointlessly entertained.
-...my mothers request...
-i began to feel incredibly guilty after spending an entire hour just doing virtually nothing

it's kind of scary how much facebook wants to denominate the world. and how good at it they are. and how friendly they are when they do it.
immediately after clicking that big fat "deactivate account" button, i received an email showing me where to get my account back and it ended with something like "we hope you come back soon!".