Two Interesting Social Network Stories
I came across a couple very interesting stories. They use Facebook as the subject here, but each story can be applied to the broad social network world.
The first story takes a look at the art of “creeping.” This is basically randomly viewing people’s profiles on social networks without being on their friends list. You may think that only the scumbags creep, but not so. Actually, it’s people like you and me that are guilty of creeping (well, not me because I am so anti-social networking that I won’t even view a good friend’s profile). It’s an interesting word and idea for social networking etiquette. Ask yourself: are you a creep?
The second story is actually something I have been preaching for years. But it takes a smart person from the UK to bring it up. The shallow “friends” acquired on social networks will lead to a huge downturn of personal relationships. Experts in the UK say it’s happening and that the acquiring friends part is becoming an addiction.
While both of these stories are lighter and somewhat humorous, parents should be reminded that social networks are a serious addiction. Whether you have a profile and are addicted to making “friends” or don’t have one and are a creep… parents need to monitor their child’s online activity. Our PC Pandora will let you know what your child is doing online. You know, they aren’t always honest about what they are doing. Especially when it comes to social networks…
Check out the stories below…
Facebook: creepshow
By Wes Young, Opinion ColumnistFacebook has allowed our generation to stay in touch with friends in many ways, including wall posts, photos, messages, event invitations and status updates, but it has also created a questionable extracurricular activity: “creeping.”
For the record, I prefer to use “creeping” instead of stalking because stalking someone sounds much creepier than “creeping” someone. Miss Maz Hardy writes the blog “A guide to Facebook Etiquette” on www.blogspot.com. She said using “the news and minifeed revelations is perfectly acceptable and expected operandi of surveillance.” By her definition, everything else is “creeping.”
I’ll admit I’ve “creeped” someone before. Let’s face it, Facebook has made it easy and tempting. Because I’ve “creeped,” I’ve come up with my own definition. Any time you view the profile of a person with whom you are not Facebook “friends,” you’ve just “creeped.” When you visit a friend’s page without a good reason, i.e. something showed up in the minifeed, it’s his or her birthday, or you are close to them but haven’t seen or heard from them in a while, you’ve just “creeped.” Anything else is acceptable use of Facebook.
So what’s the big deal? Most people wouldn’t physically go out and follow someone around to find out everything about his or her life, so why would do people feel comfortable “creeping” others on Facebook?
Gavin Driskill, a student at Vanderbilt, summed up the reason in an interview with USA Today. He said, “You’re just sitting there, and there’s no direct interaction. So in one sense you feel safe because you can get this information without sharing anything about you.
“Though they could be Facebook-stalking you.”
That’s a scary thought. I can picture it now: a student walking across campus. A stranger runs up and says “Hey, you’re so-and-so. I saw you on Facebook. Aren’t you double majoring in elementary education and psychology with a minor in Spanish? Did you have fun at the Tumbleweed on Thursday night?” Creepy.
Facebook could basically kill the first date. You meet the “perfect” girl or guy in class and add him or her on Facebook. You both “creep” each other, and by the time you get to dinner on Friday night, you already know everything about each other. You don’t feel comfortable enough with him or her to discuss more serious topics, or worse, you’re bored because you’re talking about all the things you already know in order to keep conversation flowing. Good luck making it to the second date.
Luckily, there are ways to prevent “creeping.” Set your profile to private. If you feel like someone knows too much, only allow him or her to see your limited profile. Use caution when uploading pictures and writing wall posts. Facebook is a communication tool, but we all know “creepers” exist. I doubt you want to share anything you wouldn’t share in face to face conversation. If you get caught “creeping,” your best option is to make a joke about it.
The easiest way to deal with “creeping” is to avoid it, and follow the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Facebook to blame for ‘friendship addiction’ among women
By Paul Revoir, Daily Mail (UK)Social networking site Facebook is fuelling insecurity, according to addictions expert David Smallwood
Social networking website Facebook has been blamed for creating a “friendship addiction” amongst women which fuels their insecurity.
Leading psychologist David Smallwood from the Priory has claimed many have become hooked on the urge to “acquire” more and more friends.
He claims women are vulnerable to the addiction as they get their self worth from relationships and Facebook compels them to seek out hundreds of cohorts.
Last year it was revealed that females between 25 and 49-years old were spending more time on the internet than men for the first time ever.
The so-called feminisation of the web has been driven by social networking sites, which allow people to keep in touch with friends and chat online.
Facebook, which has become an internet phenomenon, has nearly 60million users with two million joining every week.
Research has shown that in some cases social networking sites are acting as a substitute for proper family life in countries like Britain.
But yesterday Mr Smallwood, lead therapist with the Priory’s addictions unit, warned at least 10 per cent of the population are at risk from “friendship addiction”.
He pointed out that the site is particularly unsuitable for people recovering from drug, alcohol and shopping dependancy.
He said: ‘The problem with Facebook is it’s all about acquisition and this is an addictive process.
‘Acquisition of friends is like any other fix but it’s competitive – you judge yourself by how many friends you have online.
‘You go out of your way to amass friends and that means people bend out of shape and become something they are not.
‘To appear successful, you go and put yourself in credit card debt by buying clothes and handbags. I see patients who are on Facebook and my response is “get yourself of it”.
Sites can also increase people’s sense of rejection through its system of friend “requests”, it is claimed.
People who are rejected are barred from accessing the webpage of the person that turned them down.
Mr Smallwood said: ‘If you’re an addict you need to do things to fix yourself and make yourself feel better.
‘People in recovery look for ways of being ‘fixed’ and these websites can act the same Way.
‘But the problem is there are only three to four people who can be at the top in terms of popularity. Anyone else is just an also-ran which increases the feelings of inadequacy.’
Despite his claims a report published yesterday claimed sites like Facebook actually prevent people becoming socially isolated.