With going public and another mandatory change looming in form of Timeline, it’s been a big week for Facebook. After reading a week’s worth of news, I found this this article, about five problems it faces, that seems to reinforce my strained relationship with Facebook. (It’s important to note; my personal and professional feelings towards Facebook, and most other social media outlets, are drastically different. Everything that makes social media an amazing tool for business and marketing I find asinine in my private use. Having the ability to talk directly to customers and fans is fantastic for building brand loyalty but detrimental to causal online friendships.)
It would be easy to latch onto number two, “Facebook users hate change,” but I’ve been on the site so long I’ve come to understand change is inevitable. Consider these fun facts about when I joined in the summer of 2005: to join you had to belong to specific universities, your only picture was your profile pic, you literally had one page and your wall resembled a dry erase board, and it was still called The Facebook. So yeah, if I was still complaining about changes I’d seriously need to reevaluate my life!
Instead, I am drawn to number one, “Facebook actually makes us miserable.” I have to agree; most days Facebook makes me miserable. Unlike most of my generation, I don’t subscribe to the world of over-sharing. I use to the site primarily to share pictures and music ; post self-deprecating anecdotes about myself or unwarranted pet peeves, like pajama pants in public; and, most importantly, to have easy way to communicate with friends, family, and casual acquaintances. Unfortunately, it feels like a majority of users see Facebook as a chance to post rants about politics or personal squabbles and over share about every detail of their lives, no matter how mundane or even icky. (I’m sorry but there is never a reason to post running commentary on potty training your toddler. Gross.)
But I have to point out; my feelings are irrelevant because, clearly, I am in this relationship for the long haul. Whether it’s me or Facebook complicating our relationship status, it doesn’t matter. I have no plans of deactivating. I just wish people would take few seconds to think, “Should I really post this?” or more importantly, “Does anyone really care about this?” It’s not the most realistic wish; but hey, a girl can dream.