social identity

The Internet over the past decade has become more popular than I have ever imagined. It has countless amounts of new things to do everyday and contains a vast amount of information. It is simply amazing. I even find myself caught up in some of the newer crazes on the Internet. One of which is called Facebook. To say I’m absolutely hooked on Facebook would be a lie. I haven’t even changed my profile picture in about a year nor updated a status (picture at top is my profile pic i haven't changed in a while. It is me and my friends at kings island). However, it is useful in some respects such as staying in touch with some friends that are distant. Overall, having this social identity is a good thing and the best part is I’m not an addict.         
          An ex-Harvard student named Mark Zuckerburg created Facebook. The site, originally called “Facemash,” was intended to link students together in the school. The site later took off thanks to Sean Parker, the founder of napster, and became a hit in the year 2004. Facebook today is extremely popular. People are constantly uploading statuses about what they are doing, where they’re at, and what has happened around them. It's even mobile nowadays with the invention of smart phones and iPhones and is accessible to everyone. When I found out what Facebook I thought it was just going to be another MySpace; the next new thing people would blow over eventually. However, unlike MySpace, Facebook turned out to be better than I expected. I find myself on Facebook every once in a while just checking out the news feed and seeing what people have to say. I haven’t really used the site that much to communicate, but instead check to see how people are. Occasionally, I find people I haven’t seen in a while and try to set up a hang out day through Facebook. Facebook still retains its formal aspects of linking people together except now it’s on a global scale. It is a great way to keep in touch with families and friends and is easily accessible.

             Facebook hasn’t caused any problems for me, it still causes some problems such as addiction. According to Amy Summers, a writer on the subject, there is a disease known as Facebook addiction disorder or FAD (picture to the left sort of captures facebook addictiveness in a comical way). It is defined by the hours you spend on Facebook as well as what you do with Facebook. One of the reasons I don’t use Facebook all the time is because I don’t want it to define who I am. I don’t want my online identity to define who I am in reality. In Facebook you can freely express who you are, but I wouldn’t enjoy the fact that I could only express my opinions online. It may be easier to do, but it doesn’t seem right. I witness people all the time posting hurtful comments or threats towards others on Facebook instead of facing the problem head on. It hasn’t stopped nor will it for a while considering the “Facebook Drama” has shifted to twitter. I’m careful to not become an addict. I make sure to separate my Facebook identity from my real identity while still enjoying the fun of having a Facebook.

            The whole reason I started a Facebook was to contact a friend who I hadn’t seen in a while. Facebook offers a variety of things to do, but I have yet to tap into most of it. You can post statuses, post pictures, play games, and even comment or like your friend’s status. I just can’t get into posting statuses all the time mostly because I feel like id rather keep “what’s on my mind” in my head. I like posting good news or pictures on my account, but that’s about as far as ill go. According to a recent Harvard university study, posting a status on Facebook is comparable to food and sex in terms of pleasure. It releases dopamine in the brain based off the responses one is anticipating. I can see why people like posting statuses on Facebook after this study. And it does seem like that’s why people post things sometimes such as a “Like my Status” post or the occasional “truth is.” I haven’t partaken in any of those things. I usually scroll past it and look for some exciting news. For example, recently, a friend from my high school recently got engaged and I couldn’t help but stop to like the status and comment. Not to say posting statuses and comments is a bad thing. Facebook is meant for that purpose to speak your mind and to post whatever you are feeling at the time. In some sense, it could be more of a stress reliever than an issue. I can find some personal joy in reading someone’s exciting news even when I’m not happy myself. Also, if someone finds comfort after a tough situation they’re going through then it becomes more beneficial.

            Facebook has been a great way to communicate with people and allows anyone access. It is even used by companies and businesses like an advertisement on a billboard. Nowadays, there is a newer site called twitter that has brought some competition to Facebook. I haven’t considered making a twitter myself, but it sounds like it retains some of the ideas Facebook stood for. Both sites have become popular merely because a bandwagon effect took place. According to W. Wayne Fu, an associate professor in the Wee Kim Wee school of communication and information, Jaelen Tao, and Seraphina Seng, sites like Facebook have become popular because people like to use it based off how many of the people around them like to. I have found this to be a little true about my friends. Some moved to twitter and told others to follow and now the majority of my friends on Facebook now own a twitter account as well (chart on the left shows a comparison of times people spend on both Facebook and twitter nowadays) i would rather have to keep up with one online identity. Although I don’t really use my Facebook account, I still like having it just in case something pops up. For example, this last weekend i received bad news about my friend near the moment it occurred through Facebook. I can even keep in contact with friends even when they’re on the other side of the world like my Korean family. Overall, I enjoy having an online identity and make sure to keep it separated from my real identity. It hasn’t become an issue for me yet and I’m eager to see how long Facebook will remain popular. Until then, this is one of my social identities and I like the benefits of having one.