Facebook: Friend or Enemy?

[Halle Gitelson]

Facebook is probably one of the most, if not the most, commonly used social networking website. Whether it be for business, finding old friends, or just letting everybody know what you’re doing every moment of the day by posting a status, Facebook is being used. This site has actually changed people’s lives believe it or not! I have seen numerous TV shows where the theme for the day is “Facebook brought me back to my family", as ridiculous as it sounds its true. Facebook is designed to let you search for people over the internet, maybe an old crush from back in high school or a long lost relative, and it allows you to regain contact with them along with the possibility of a new relationship. This site is basically a convenient way to keep in touch with those who you normally wouldn’t converse with in your everyday life.
While all of those sap stories you hear on the Tyra Banks Show about reuniting with a twin sister via Facebook, comes the tragedies. Cyber bullying, rejection, and the ever so popular "creeping, are all major issues that we might have to face when we decide to login into our Facebook accounts. In this day in age, cyber bullying is at an all time high. The things that some kids do to others online is unbelievable, it ranges from posting cruel status, rude picture comments, and insulting wall posts. Let's face it. As teenagers we can be downright mean to each other, and Facebook is providing us with a way to put that negativity out there for everyone to see. Most teenage suicide attempts and successes started with cyber bullying. This site is allowing us to post whatever we have to say about somebody directly on their pictures or wall, without any censoring. Horrible things are said about kids on this website, and sure you can delete a comment, but you can’t take back that person seeing what you wrote. Also, reuniting with somebody over Facebook is a two way street. You can reach out to someone and request them, but in order for a bond to reconnect, they must click accept or reply. What if they don’t want to reconnect or talk to you? Are you willing to feel the pain of rejection? These are questions that should run through your head as you click on “send friend request”. Finally, Facebook has giving us a new favorite past time…creeping. We all do it so don’t even try to deny this fact. Yes, it is fun to look at everyone’s pictures and silly status’, but some people take it to an extreme. This is where stalkers are now born. If your profile isn’t set to private, anybody can look at it…I mean anybody, like someone from Nova Scotia. Everything you put on your profile is out there for anyone to look at, and store onto their computers for use of black mail and fantasy, as gross as that sounds.
Either way you look at it, Facebook has made a huge impact on our society today. In the olden days they would have never had these problems in life, but they also wouldn’t have been able to reconnect with others. Has this site corrupted or helped us in life? Good majorities of you all have Facebooks, so what are your opinions on the topic?

[Concepcion Ruiz]

I dont log in to my facebook account that much. But I agree with you on somethings. I love facebook. I found my old friends from elementary school. And we love talking about the "good old days." I also found my sister on facebook and I have not seen her since I was 4 years old. Facebook has its ups and downs, but what doesn't.

[Abby Muller]

i want to delete my facebook because i spend too much time on it, but my work schedule is posted on facebook so thats the main reason why i keep it. othewise i would have totally deleted it by now. it gets in the way when i'm trying to get homework done a lot.

[Keely Ward]

I think the site has had a negative effect. I see it everyday when I go on Facebook instead of doing my homework. I end up spending so much time and I don't even realize where the time goes. It does have to benefits of staying in touch with people but there are so many other resources to use.

[Joaquin Zuniga]

Give it another year or two, and all of this Facebook fever will start to disappear. I personally have a Facebook like tons of other people and I've also reconnected with lost contacts. I also like how it keeps track of things such as other people's birthdays and such. But as with all great things, there is always a dark side to them. Cyber bullying is a serious problem which a lot of people don't think is a big deal when it is.

[Davy Mellado]

It's like our minds are trying to believe were in a magical room with all our friends, but were perfect. Perfect pictures, perfect sayings and quotes, what we don't expect is who we are behind the bright screen. Thats who really makes us who we are, not our page popularity or our funny picture with everyone, it's how much we can look into a person's eye and say wee care for them

[Robin de Freitas]

Personally, whenever I try to do some type of homework assignment I always go off track because of facebook, as i type this I am even on facebook! I've tabbed back and forth multiple times, in reality I think it's more of a distraction than an addiction if anything, its best to keep logged off for a little while.

[Sid Suresh]

Facebook is a place where we can talk to our friends and share things with them. If you abuse it, it can come to harm you in school or just life in general.

[Jessi Jorgensen]

I feel like Facebook is more of an addiction then anything. I love it because it helps me connect with my friends and people that live far away, but at the same time i hate it because it makes doing my homework last double the time it should take. It's such a distraction when really theres not much on the cite. I mostly go on to chat with friends or to find out homework if i missed it for the day. Overall though, i dont think facebook is THAT harmful, it has just gotten out of hand.

[Aly Glover]

I think Facebook has done more harm than good. For me, I know it distracts me from doing my school work or getting things done. It also is another way for people to say hurtful things about others whithout saying it to that persons face. It also can create problems when you apply for jobs if your not careful about what you post.

[JohnPaulus V Arcangel]

Its just like any weapon out there in the world. It all depends on how you use it, it can be for good it can be for bad. Responsibility is a huge factor to that, and those lacking in responsibility will suffer from facebook's "bad effects" . Honestly people are getting angry at facebook for the things that they uploaded up there, how idiotic.