Two of the most influential factors which have contributed to the success of Facebook include: its user-friendly interface for networking purpose and also its ‘sincerity and reality factor’.
When we use a social networking site such as Facebook, one of our main purposes is for networking purposes. With Facebook, there is efficiency. We can efficiently sort out our networks into different categories, or groups, ranging from simply acquaintances, to best buddies; or work colleagues to superiors; sometimes even lecturers. From there our network is thus more organized and we do not have to dig up, say, three hundred over people just to select a group of specific people. The ‘Search’ function also helps make things more efficient.
Let us say I post a status and I do not want a specific group of people to view my status, namely my working colleagues and superiors or bosses. I can customize it in such a way that I can ‘block’ only that particular group from viewing my status and yet simultaneously allowing the rest of my Facebook network to view. It works for individual people as well and not just groups.
There is also the ‘sincerity and reality factor’. Facebook allows us to brand ourselves and show who we are in whichever way we want to and people always want to know who exactly they are dealing with: who they are; what they are; how they are like etc. It is part of our human nature to do so. With Facebook, we can tell more or less the kind of person we are dealing with judging by his or her ‘Wall’ posts, comments, likes, interests and other profile information.
For example, I have a random person adding me. I would not simply click ‘accept’ friend unless I personally know the person in real life or we have mutual friends whom I am close to. I can first take a look at his wall and info to know more about the person before accepting him or her into my network. If I find too much lack of information or I do not really like the way he or she acts online, I can choose to reject. Likewise, that person can do the same to me if I wish to add him or her as a friend.
I realised that with social networking sites, I have since been able to expand my social network. There is not really a need to go around and make new friends. For me, it is more of re-connecting with long lost friends all the way from Primary School and even Kindergarten.
With a larger network and having more connections to socialise with, I am able to gain a wider perspective for myself. Connections which range from being street smart to academically smart, I can take their perspectives and learn from them. This has allowed me to widen my perception and opinions in many areas as I have networks from all phases of life. In addition, I have also learnt how to apply what I have learnt in academics into real life when solving issues.
However, there are certain circumstances when people are not very sincere when networking on Facebook. I have had what one would term as ‘clone’ accounts adding me as a friend simply to boost their ranking or power in various Facebook games. When we expand our network, we want to add real life people and not a multitude of ‘clone’ accounts which are all run by the same one person. To me, there is nothing to learn from the clones and they are simply taking up my number of Friends spaces. When I seek to network, I seek real and sincere people who want to socialise and create new connections like me, not for the purpose of games. Games should be secondary when socialising on a social networking site like Facebook.
One example of an unethical usage of Facebook in the movie is Parker’s usage of it. By using Facebook, he gathered a group of interns for a party which involved the illegal usage of cocaine because of the interns’ age.
First of all, I honestly feel that Parker was extremely irresponsible in this area. For starters, he has broken the law altogether by allowing underage interns to consume cocaine. In other words, he took advantage of their innocence to the harsh reality of the world. Instead of teaching and educating them like what a proper decent adult should do, he ‘fed’ them poison, both figuratively and literally.
Literally is in the sense that cocaine when consumed causes the body harm, as with most drugs do. Figuratively is in the sense that he is indirectly destroying their lives. True, cocaine would make them feel high for the moment at the party. However, it can cause long term biological addiction if used too often and for too long of periods of time.
Young as they are, Parker has almost destroyed their lives forever simply by this irresponsible action of his. Imagine if the interns actually did something stupid or regrettable while on the effect of drugs. The mental scar will always be there. Not to mention the terrible pain and suffering which they would have to go through while under rehabilitation to cure their addiction to the drug.
Without thinking of the consequences and just wanting to have fun, this action of his shows how irresponsible a person Parker is.
As I use Facebook the most often, I shall use it as an example. When I wish to make a comment on my friend’s status, I have to be careful and watch my words, especially if it is something negative or disagreeing.
My friend’s might post something on the wall, saying something like: “SNSD ROCKS MY SOCKS OFF! TAEYON IS SUCH AN EXCELLENT SINGER! RIGHT RIGHT?” Let us assume I am a non-K-Pop fan and I want to comment on her status. I cannot just go up and say: “NO!! K-POP SUCKS TO THE CORE! HAHAHAHA!” even if it is a joke it is still rather offensive.
It is a rather extreme example but it makes it easier to differentiate, so, forgive the slight crudeness. Oh, and no offense to K-Pop fans out there. If there are any offended, I shall make an apology right here.
Instead of saying that above, I could perhaps tone it down and say something like: “Yes, Taeyon is a rather good singer but sorry I am not really a K-Pop fan.” That way, I am on one hand bringing my point across that I do not really enjoy K-Pop but at the same time I am doing it in a non-offensive way.
That is all for my reflection journal.Thank you.
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