an outsiders inside view

Recent discussion of Facebook’s new privacy settings and the media backlash (mostly by newspapers and magazines financially suffering at the expense of Facebook’s popularity) in many blog du jours of 2009 prompted me to take a closer look at the social networking craze. I also have a vague notion that Facebook will be considered very 2009 come January and I must please the trend watchers by getting on board the blog train before the ship has sailed (that’s for all you “mode of transportation” idiom lovers out there).

Why I personally like Facebook: I’m a voyeur. Ok, maybe I’m just the curious type. But I like seeing pictures that people (unaware of their lack of privacy when posting on the internet) may not know I can see. I also like looking at the content I’m definitely meant to see. I’ve befriended a lot of exhibitionist types in my time. They’re much more fun to be around than voyeurs and they love all the attention that Facebook gives them. In these days of reality television, YouTube do it yourself webcasts, and news sources reporting “anything but” just to keep up-I’m glad I can count on my Facebook friends for entertainment (have you seen the quizzes? ), political commentary (what they “like” and don’t “like), relevant news (like what they ate for dinner) and warm social interaction (touching your keyboard with emotion as you type lol)…But seriously, I love it that I know how many kids that girl from high school that I sometimes said hello to in the halls has, or which virtual fan clubs she’s a member of.

I like seeing recent posts by former best friends, now I know I wasn’t making them up. Even if I never see them in real life, I at least have webidence (evidence supported by the web) that they’re still out there somewhere. Even better, they’re still my friends. Webster defines friend as one that is not hostile, a favored companion, or one that is of the same nation, party, or group. I guess Facebook won’t have any major influence on the general meaning of friendship. In a way it can be compared to the invention of the telephone but with extra whistles and bells.

More meaningful is Facebook as big brother’s wet dream and cash strapped media producers free ride. My new year’s wish is that bloggers (I guess blogger is the correct term these days for investigative reporters who inform the public- journalist just leaves a bad taste in my mouth) expose the potential real dangers of social networking sites. I’m not talking about embarrassment at looking stupid in a picture, or insulting your boss (who happens to be a Facebook friend), or so-called sexual predators (I’m sorry, if your teenager is uploading pornographic material of themselves or engaging in online prostitution, there were “issues” in your family before the invention of Facebook).

One web address,  extensive amounts of personal information from individuals all over the world with pictures, videos, chat conversations, mail messages, a huge readership that produces content too without asking for a salary.…if it all fell into the wrong hands…that guy with the Borat profile picture could be in a lot of trouble. Oh well, I don’t “like” him anyway.