My Facebook, My self

Citation: Helfand, Jessica. "My Facebook, My Self." Moodle. 11 Mar. 2009. Web./

Summary: In this piece Jessica Helfand address the dangers of Facebook and how by posting pictures and other information on facebook, we are willingly allowing everyone to step into our private lives, creating an image of yourself for the world to see. She compares Facebook to scrap booking; the two very similar yet scrap booking is more of the self whereas Facebook is more for the world to view. She expresses how Facebook is corrupting teenagers and even if you dont have a Facebook, if you go to a party it will definitely be seen by everyone the next day.

Quote: "Even if you are super careful-ell, even if you don't have a Facebook account yourself -say you find yourself at some random party where there's someone brandishing a mobile phone. and that someone (or, for that matter, someone else) snaps your picture. soon thereafter, somebody with a Facebook account "tags" you and there you are-wammo-your questionable behavior rendered spectacularly public."

Response: When reading this article, this quote jumped out at me. Our generation is so tech-savey, that no matter what happens, in the next day or even second you will see it on your news feed on Facebook or on your timeline on twitter. Our generation is becoming more and more dependent on theses different social networking sites. With these social networks becoming so popular, many young children are even becoming involved. Just last week, by best friends brother went online and made himself a facebook, hes in 5th grade. Also, adults are getting involve as well. It has come to the point where both my parents have a facebook.

In Jessica's article she clearly addresses the dangers of openly putting your life on Facebook for the world to see. She expresses that it is corrupting many teenagers and many are eager to create this "Facebook identity". Although I myself have a facebook, I find it funny how many people are contantly thinking of a new or clever status update or hoping to take pictures at some event with someone so they can get tagged in a picture and have it show up on their profile. This need to have your Facebook page in a constant update is becoming many Facebook users top priority.

Along with the negatives, facebook also has many positive aspects as well. I find it honestly amazing that I can connect and stay in touch with so many people around the world. Without Facebook, I feel that staying friends with a lot of the people I know out of the country would be so difficult. Also, another positive is that whenever there is a important issue happening around the world, Facebook is the first place people go to comment on them. For example, with the Japan earthquake, many of my friends on facebook were updating their status' constantly. Many people were sharing articles with each other hoping to stay up to date on the latest news.

I find facebook as something one needs to learn how to use correctly. Facebook is certainly a website that can really become addicting. Feeling the constant need to check up on what your friends are up to and make sure you update everyone on your life as well. But when one finds their selves on Facebook clicking refresh repeatedly, there is a definite problem. Although Facebook can be both good and bad, Facebook users need to learn how to not abuse their Facebook experience.