Facebook – Friend(s) or Foe(s)?

Today (May 31st) is officially ‘Quit Facebook Day’ - and with Facebook continually in the media gathering the popularity (or notoriety) that it has, I’ve started to wonder what it’s really all about.
Facebook, being everywhere, is now part and parcel of our society today. Most organisations and people want you to ‘befriend’ them or ‘like them’ (with the ‘fan’ option no longer being available!).
The power and influence of social networking can no longer be denied – and Facebook seems to be the Big Mamma.
It was launched in February 2004, by Mark Zuckerberg. He was a Harvard undergrad student who realised that it was time to change the traditional student directory they used. His realisation was that, although students develop affiliations on campus and constantly meet new people, they needed a further place to find out “more” about someone you were interested in.
So – today, 6 years later the phenomenon is still exploding with a myriad of reasons why people join the community. Be it:
• To stay in touch with friends
• To pass time spent on your own
• To check up on what your kids are doing
• To promote your business
• To find a potential romantic interest
• Wanting to ‘belong’… etc
What helps the growth is that Facebook is easy to use. It’s free communication providing you with a certain degree of anonymity and control whilst still able to “socialise” or connect to your heart’s content.
To be honest, initially, I didn’t quite “get” the Facebook concept. It seemed a little fake, absurd and slightly desperate.
I’ve since accepted what an awesome social forum it is – being able to connect with so many people, so effortlessly. Sharing photos, staying in touch, online chats and sharing events are all part of the fun – let alone the games, poking and farming!
It’s no secret that many individuals (with healthy social skills and not) have made connections with people in places that wouldn’t usually be possible. With new connections, obviously, your network of learning and experience extends nationally and internationally.
Relationships have been formed and sometimes even lifetime partnerships!
That being said, I do however still have the following concerns:
Individuals who have previously been isolated due to social phobias, low self-esteem or fears now have a means to connect and see what lies beyond their ‘cocooned’ worlds. But they can do this without having to face the pressures that the external world often provides.
This experience of the world opening up for them may merely be for something they may not actually be. Characters, personalities and indeed entire lives can be developed and expressed as chosen.
People will ‘like’ you for who they think you are.

Is this healthy for personal growth and self-acceptance?
I’m not so sure.
Is the fact that Facebook was created to find out “more” about others an indication that we as a society, don’t ask enough questions of each other? Or spend enough time with each other?
George Fraser, the author of “Click” is passionate about connecting with others — By this he means that heartfelt feeling of trust, and the exciting burst of energy. And then when at least two people willingly add special value to each other and what they can achieve together is more than either could achieve alone, that’s when they CLICK.
So, bearing both the negative and positive aspects in mind, it’s important to remember what George Fraser says “Superior interpersonal skills trump all other skills. Be careful who your friends are – your top 5 define you.”
So although the world is rapidy changing (both people & technology) don’t forget what you’re really about.
What is it that you want from others? Is it merely interaction – or do you really want to connect (Click)?
Is Facebook assisting you to move forward in your life, or helping you to hide away?
As with everything in life, make your choices, set your personal boundaries and act within your integrity.