On the surface, Facebook may seem like a simple, and useful application for staying connected with your friends and keeping them updated on your life. But there is a devil lurking behind Facebook’s placid facade.
Is Facebook the Devil in disguise? Why?
Source: Masquerade Pictures. Art by ShibaShake.
1. Facebook lowers the productivity of our nation or even that of the world
Facebook lowers the productivity of our nation.
The hard-working American worker is under siege. The perpetrator? Facebook. Workers pulling all-nighters hunched over their computer screens may just be social networking on Facebook. The problem, in fact, is worse than it first appears. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Facebook may be costing Australian businesses $5 billion per year.
Could Facebook also be the reason for our current economic crisis, massive national debt, and falling GDP? The verdict is still out.
Some may remember that the same arguments were used against electronic mail and instant messaging. Now, they are touted as tools for increasing productivity. I suppose the verdict will be out until the next innovative idea/scapegoat comes along.
2. Facebook exposes our children to smut
Who will protect our children from evil-doers like Facebook, who is constantly shoving smut and inappropriate content into their young, and innocent faces. We are beginning to see a collapse in our society’s moral values as evidenced by the increase in crimes committed by minors. We are indeed at the beginning of the end.
The price of freedom of speech and information is having to deal with things that we may not agree with, may not like, and may not deem appropriate. Smut has been around since time immemorial – before Facebook, before HubPages, before the internet, and before television.
Who will protect the children? Parents, teachers, and other responsible adults in the child’s life. Spend quality time with your child on the internet and direct them towards constructive pursuits; there are many.
Source: Red Devil Pictures
3. Facebook disconnects us from the real-world
And does Facebook really connect people? Doesn’t it rather disconnect us, since instead of doing something enjoyable such as talking and eating and dancing and drinking with my friends, I am merely sending them little ungrammatical notes and amusing photos in cyberspace, while chained to my desk? A friend of mine recently told me that he had spent a Saturday night at home alone on Facebook, drinking at his desk. What a gloomy image. Far from connecting us, Facebook actually isolates us at our workstations.
~~ Excerpt from “With Friends Like These …” by Tom Hodgkinson, The Guardian, Monday January 14 2008.
If you go to Tom’s page, he announces in his Web Feed that he has given up electronic mail as of March 7th, 2007. There will always be people like this who have never used Facebook, and are probably uncomfortable with the notion of the internet.
From my own experiences with Facebook, Hubpages, and others, participating in these online communities actually help with social disconnect issues. For example on Hubpages, many users talk about facing alienation in real life. Sharing their stories, and getting support from an online community, helps with that alienation.
Any technology can be misused. A bad addiction to online communities may alienate a person from the “real-world” and in the worst case, bring about grave, real-world, consequences. Such cases, however, are extremely rare, which is perhaps why they are so news-worthy; like human deaths resulting from dog attacks.
Just because some bad can happen, does not mean we should stop using it. Car accidents happen a lot more frequently, but last time I checked, cars are still in use.
4. Facebook exposes us to stalkers
Facebook is stalker heaven. Remember the ex-boyfriend that never really got over you?; well your every move is now open to him with just a few clicks and a Facebook account.
To share in the benefits of a community, we must share a part of ourselves. If we use sound judgement on what information we publicize, the danger of an online stalking, which is already small to begin with, becomes negligible.
Are we fully protected? No.
Just as we are never fully protected in real life. But that does not mean we should become social hermits. The benefits of belonging to an online community, such as Facebook, often outweigh the dangers.
If you do not feel that is the case, you are free to not participate in Facebook, electronic mail, and the internet in general.
5. Facebook causes us social stress and emotional pain
“It’s turned into this big thing, where if you just start dating someone you have to have this serious discussion: Should we change our Facebook status? Is it too soon? And then if you break up, you have to change your status again and have that pathetic little broken heart next to your name on the (Facebook news) feed. No, thank you.”
~~ [Quote from Facebook member on Canada.com described in Survey: Facebook friends annoying.]
“You’d think that Facebook would be the perfect tool for handling all this. It’s not. For every long-lost chum who reaches out to me on Facebook, there’s a guy who beat me up on a weekly basis through the whole seventh grade but now wants to be my buddy; or the crazy person who was fun in college but is now kind of sad; or the creepy ex-co-worker who I’d cross the street to avoid but who now wants to know, “Am I your friend?” yes or no, this instant, please.”
~~ [Excerpt from How Your Creepy Ex-Co-Workers Will Kill Facebook by Cory Doctorow, InformationWeek, November 26, 2007]
This New York Times article describes how people endure greater social stress and emotional pain as a result of Facebook.
Many users may feel pressured into accepting “friend invites” from people whom they may not regard as friends. Others are pressured into a popularity contest where they must madly gather as many friends as possible so as not to lose to their peers. And finally, Facebook makes breaking up extremely hard to do.
Facebook users describe in gory detail how losing an ex becomes a public embarrassment because now, it is plastered all over Facebook. To add insult to injury, the victim is tortured with minute-to-minute updates of their ex’s successful social calendar.
I do not know about you, but this really sounds like high school all over again.
Socially awkward situations occur in real life, and so do popularity contests. Facebook is a social tool that may be used in a variety of ways, including those listed above. It is true, that a large social network, like Facebook, may exacerbate some of these awkward and sometimes painful social situations, but it really comes down to how you choose to use it.
For example, users may choose not to publish their “relationship status”. Removing ex’s from your friends list is only a click away and you can always take a vacation from Facebook and join Hubpages.
6. Facebook tracks our personal information and uses it for nefarious purposes
All the information you enter into Facebook, including your name, address, e-mail address, interests, job history, education history, relationship status, and much more may be turned against you and used to profit multi-national conglomerates. You may not realize this but by using Facebook and agreeing to their Terms of Service, you are signing away your identity.
The multi-nationals will monetize your friendships, wreak your life, and who knows what else.
This is an old argument. Information is collected about us whenever we use any online service including search engines such as Google and Yahoo!. In fact, even if we were internet virgins, we would still be tracked.
We may not think about this, but a lot of our personal information is already a matter of public record; including our name, social security number, date of birth, housing history, marriage history, etc. The information may be kept in different government agencies, but companies have developed technology to integrate all this information together and are selling it to those multi-national conglomerates.
With, or without Facebook, “real privacy” is a thing of the past.
Is FaceBook the Devil?
MizB sums it up very well –
“In a few months, we will be commenting on the next “Devil”…but really, lets be honest with ourselves. That “devil” resides in our self indulgence, and not on our computer screens.“
~~[MizB]
While some of the extreme arguments against Facebook may sometimes seem silly, there is an important underlying issue that we should keep bringing up and keep discussing.
David Brin captures this well in his book, The Transparent Society.
In the Information Age to come, cameras and databases will sprout like crocuses — or weeds — whether we like it or not. Over the long run, we as a people must decide.
Can we stand living exposed to scrutiny… our secrets laid open… if in return we get flashlights of our own, that we can shine on anyone who might do us harm? Even the arrogant and strong?
Or is an illusion of privacy worth any price, even surrendering our own right to pierce the schemes of the powerful?
There are no easy answers, but asking questions can be a good first step.
.~~ [Excerpt from The Transparent Society by David Brin]
Source: http://shibashake.com/blog-art
This was not very helpful at all.
It does not address many facts, but rather, common biases. Positive>Normative.
For example, “Facebook exposes our children to smut” is a positive statement. However, it does not mean that it is a true statement.
“Facebook should not expose our children to smut” is a normative statement.
Please share some facts with us. You can even do it in your own hub.
http://hubpages.com/_srec/user/new
There is no doubt the popularity of facebook, now ranking over Myspace big time. Most Adults I know use FB over MS due to “Myspace being too highschool”…but still all in all, converting FB to the same likeness. There are setting on FB to hide things such as your relationship status (who my friend, after being unaware after a breakup posting “Its complicated” all over the web for everyone to see and comment on) A few clicks in your account edit will solve alittle of the privacy issue. Kids shouldnt have pages on FB, atleast that is my opinion, and like anything new, neglect is something we will come with anything new and of popularity, as it over rides and replaces a old activity. People want to find something to blame, when the age old WILL POWER somehow seems a thing of the past. Where we want to point fingers at a extention on social happenings, rather than chalk it up to good old fashioned self will, as we drone away our day in our electronic successes. In a few months, we will be commenting on the next “Devil”…but really, lets be honest with ourselves. That “devil” resides in our self endulgence, and not on our computer screens.
Very well said! I am going to add this to the article.
facebook is evil there was a woman that looked up my husband on it and it has caused a lot of marital problems she was and ex co worker who was after my man
she called him and left a message on his phone his number hadn’t changed in over 10yrs and she still had it
China, which is not a free society, tries to limit access to FACEBOOK and other websites they cannot control. FB helps people find out information they cannot access. It allows them to pursue their own loves and interest. Your whole article is propaganda. FACEBOOK is freedom. Hurray FB and thank you very much for existing.
Perhaps you misunderstood the article’s intent.
I think the government might be secretly funding facebook. I mean, people are updating their profiles daily, keeping it fresh, telling the whole world about their lives… imagine the value of that kind of information… and they’re doing it gladly for free!!!
Initially I thot facebook was gonna be my way out of this worldy sorrows. Come to think of it, facebook has done me more harm than good. Each time I got close to people I ended up being burned. I recently deactivated my account. I’ve always been an angel. Facebook killed me, now I’ve risen. FACEBOOK or it’s carefully woven evil trap will never get me again. Promise!
Really? I read this article the whole time thinking it’s indeed a satire. I mean, characterizing Facebook as diabolical does seem like a bit of a stretch, don’t you think? Sure, it’s addictive, and it consumes countless hours of everyone’s day, but I DO believe it to be immensely rewarding for its social aspects. I myself don’t waste my time on FarmVille, Mafia Wars, and stuff like that. Instead, I use Facebook to reconnect with old friends from all over the world and even have the opportunity to make new friends. I really do love Facebook, and do not, because of its many advantages, attribute it with the Devil himself.
“We may not think about this, but a lot of our personal information is already a matter of public record; including our name, social security number, date of birth, housing history, marriage history, etc.”
I just want to point out that people’s social security numbers are absoltely NOT on public record. Just saying.
Hmmm, interesting perspective. I did a Google search on “social security number public record” and came up with several interesting articles –
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/24/AR2005052401347.html
There were also some links that advertised “find people” services including SSNs for a few bucks.
A good principle to live by: When the majority does one thing, you should do the exact opposite.
I do not get on facebook, but the wife does, and bascially all I hear about is old friends. and then sometimes those friends happen to be males. I don’t think facebook is good for relationships. Causes to many questions to be asked. Like who’s that, and why is he in your facebook list? I have no problems with talking to old friends, but if you are married, do you need to hash old times with old flames?
It’s not facebook, its more leaning towards MySpace than anything else, besides MySpace is a virus to begin with. Personally for number 3 I do use it plan events and stuff, It doesn’t disconnect you from the real world, IF you know how to use it properly, planning events, sharing videos/photos, etc. Number 6 is HIGHLY true, for even if you TRY to hide all your information, anyone can see photos of you, some posts, etc, and IF it gets hacked, your doomed. Plus some people share information to everyone so you can see everything about that person, this is bad. I personally don’t agree with number 2, for after months with FaceBook, I haven’t seen anything not appropiate, except for the occasional ad, but I haven’t seen one of those in a while. Number 1 is also very true, my teacher goes onto FaceBook during school for heaven’s sake. FaceBook should only be used to plan events, share photo’s, videos, and update in news, but for work purposes, it would be better to go with Tweet, better yet just email it, but the best of them all is just to one on one talk to the person.
Point Number 5. Facebook causes emotional pain and stress, ‘Facebook makes breaking up extremely hard to do’. I can’t emphasize how true that point is…
Never actually had one, nor planning to have. Since the early days of facebook and myspace i figured out, there is no privacy on those sites. Like it or not.
The main reason for me posting this today was, that i actually applied for a job today, and was asked over the phone if i had my resume e-mail attached to a facebook account. I replyed what is facebook, and then she kept on runting it is a cool way to keep in touch with people. I replyed, i keep in touch in the real world. She laughed.
I told her it is my constitutional right to protect my privacy. She said she knew that. I told her i was glad she knew, and she should know that i ain’t giving nobody a chance to screw me the way she could of if i had facebook.
While living in Canada last year i heard people saying they lost jobs because of facebook or lost job offers because they didn’t have a facebook account.
So if you want MHO: Screw Facebook, it is a total evil and breach of personal privacy.
While I also have reconnected with a few people on Facebook, I fail to see how ANYONE could spend more than 5 or 10 minutes tops on the site. No, I am not sending friends hug requests or virtual drinks nor do I want a virtual drink. The real thing is much more satisfying! Still, check in, see whose kid smeared Vaseline on the carpet today and check out. Pretty simple.
I must admit that I am pretty bad about keeping up with Facebook as well 🙂
Still, I think these online social interactions are positive in general, and we have not even begun to fully consider their full potential yet. I think they can actually be very useful in helping people develop leadership, cooperation, and other social skills; among many other things.
Brilliant article!
I agree with you on everything above!
Facebook has actually hooked me up with friends of past, and we have gotten together face-to-face for visits since – it’s been great to see and catch up with old friends, not just email messages.
Hi Kat, Thanks for dropping by.
Personally, I like Facebook, and am a big fan of online communities. I also managed to find some of my old high school friends through FaceBook – many of them are spread all over the world now so it is amazing that we can all still keep in touch.
As you mention, Facebook helps us re-establish old friendships, then we can interact both online and off-line afterwards. It is all up to us.
I do enjoy HubPages more though 🙂
Whenever my friends suggested I join Facebook or Myspace, I screamed and protested. Then one day I saw one of them playing the apps. I had to admit that I was interested. So, I allowed myself to be sucked into the Facebook vortex. Yes, I waste much time playing the games now, but it is time I would have wasted doing something else.
Anything can be harmful if moderation isn’t exercised. People just need to know when to log off.
Can’t agree with you more. Anything can be misused, so it is perhaps time that we take some responsibility for our own actions.
With respect to wasting time, I love this quote …
Yep, gotta watch how often you do social networking….
Very interesting essay. It is the addiction that presents the real danger … I guess.
I think all addictions can ultimately pose a danger, but as far as addictions go, the online variety isn’t too bad. I was addicted to online gaming and it didn’t actually cause me any great badness. In fact, it helped me lose some weight 🙂
I think the social dangers and loss of privacy are real, but I tend to agree with Brin in that it is an illusion now anyway. The real issue, that should be at focus is who controls that information – all of us? or just the few?
I started using Facebook recently and it seems great. I do see that some people ask to be my friend and I don’t know who they are. The main person I am thinking of has like 600 or so friends and just happened to go to the same high school as me. But for everyone else it was just nice to catch up with people I would consider to be acquaintances. For my good friends I actually see and talk to on the phone. But with kids I am very busy and facebook can be an extra way of contacting them. I know not to post anything too personal or incriminating so it is just for fun.
Hmmm, maybe I should look over this artcile. It was actually my intention to point out that there is nothing wrong with Facebook 🙂 The media always makes the same old overblown gripes, until the next thing comes along for them to gripe about. There *are* some real issues though, like the ones discussed by David Brin in the Transparent Society; but that apparently is not sensational enough for media attention.