We live in a day when almost everyone we know is on Facebook…even my grandparents! I use Facebook and check it multiple times everyday. I know some of you don’t have one or may not use it very frequently, so I am sorry if this post doesn’t make sense/apply to you! For those of you who are frequent users, I am sure you can relate when I say that there are some people on Facebook that are just…well, “those people.” Some of my personal favorites include:
1. “The political genius”
Here are some posts from my Facebook:
“If this doesn't keep you from voting for this absolute EPIC FAIL that is Obama, then you've already been lobotomized”
“It's official, America is filled with lazy idiots. We are all screwed”
2. “America’s Next Top Model” That person with at least one album entitled “me ;)”, along with multiple pictures taken with their cell phone in front of a mirror.
3. “The Check-In Fanatic”…do they really want people to be able to stalk them or do they actually think people care that they are “at University Mall?”
4. “The Drama Queen” who writes a vague post like “omg I can’t believe you would do something like that” when really everyone knows who they are talking about/they want the person they are talking about to see their post.
5. And finally, the person who makes a post like this:
“Hey I am going through all friends and deleting a bunch of people, so if you read this you are one of the lucky one’s that made the cut”…somehow after reading these posts I don’t find myself feeling lucky…
Do you guys know what I am talking about?! These people drive me crazy, but I still find myself on Facebook all the time. So my question to you is this: what is it about Facebook that is so addicting? And why do some people spend so much of their time on Facebook?
Posted By: Brittany Funk
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12 comments:
I definitely love to hate facebook. There are some friends I keep around just because their posts are so dramatic that it is funny to read them! I think we are so addicted to facebook because we crave social news. It is like gossiping but the people you are talking about are feeding you information the that normally you would hear through the grape vine. Also I feel like facebook is the lazy mans socializing tool. YOu look on facebook so you feel justified in not calling that friend you haven't talked to in 2 years. It's ok you looked at their wall you are up to date on their life.
I'm not exactly sure why facebook is so addicting. I don't see the appeal of it (hence why i don't have one). I think for most people though it is a way to distract themselves. It gives them something to do and it involves people they actually know. They have something to look at and connect to. But really beyond that I don't know why people spend so much time on it. It is probably something to do with not wanting to miss out on what is going on. Making sure you are a part of the group and know what people are doing. You can figure out what you are supposed to be like.
I am not a huge facebook fan. I have one, but I check it every once in awhile as a way to keep in touch and see what friends are up to.
I think that people find it addicting because they don't want to feel like they missed out on anything. It's like they have FOMO (fear of missing out). It's also a really easy way to socialize without having to socialize.
Addiction is a serious thing. I remember when I was younger before social networks were big, around 2002 when I heard that some mothers were so addicted to the internet that they were spending 50+ hours online while not taking care of their toddler children. And for each of these women it was a fear of missing out on some information. Something they cared about. For some it was emails, for some it was shopping sites like Ebay, but all exhibited addictive personalities to it. A literal I can't operate without it, especially when it was related to time sensitive things.
I looked up addiction and it is most often the use of something to alter mood. That is a slippery slope and thinking about it has made me question my Sportscenter habits- which I watch to see today's action and to get away from stresses.
Facebook has so many reasons for people to become addicted but obviously they are working since 500 million people use it daily for an average of 1 hour per day and it is the #1 most visited site in about 25 countries (according to Alexa.com)- yes beating google. Some of the reasons I see: instant information that you can't miss, awareness of people/things you care about, ability to not feel alone, ability to feel important. The list is endless for the reasons people get addicted, the 500 million daily users prove it. And I think each one of the reasons listed represent a different need and use of Facebook, from the I'm the need to be heard person, to the feeling like the most popular girl, to the gossiper. I realize Facebook has potential good uses but also a lot of potential to get me to waste time and care about useless things- and that's why I don't use it. I don't want to feel like my day was useful because I was busy on Facebook for 3 hours. And the best part is, since it is so much info and so much to do, many people feel busy or active because they were on Facebook not watching tv.
Dan Johns...
People spend so much time on Facebook for many reasons I think. They want to know what is going on in the world, who is up to what, and why aren't they involved with it? They don't want to miss out on all of the fun stuff that other people are doing. Maybe they want something to talk about next time they see someone. Or perhaps they just get lost in the news feed, the photos, instagrams, articles, videos, proclamations, announcements, questions, and so on. Personally, I get on maybe once or twice a month - usually to send a message, or get some contact info for somebody I want to get in touch with. I think for many people they get on to see what their friends are up to or what is going on in their world. When you have 600, 700, maybe 1000 friends to catch up with - that can take quite a long while. Really, I don't get it. I know that for many, it does seem to be an addiction - one they just can't seem to want to take a break from.
Facebook is addicting because people crave to be constantly in the know. If they are alone, Facebook is a way for them to still feel connected to people. We continuously hit refresh to see if there are any new updates because we get bored with what's going on or not going on in our own lives. Although the social network may be a useful tool, most people who spend time on it are usually spending too much unnecessary time on it.
completely agree. those people on facebook are absolutely ridiculous. but they make facebook what it is. the truth of the matter is that i usually pay them no mind though. i dont like their status. i dont comment on it. i dont look through those albums. i think we all use facebook for different reasons, but my personal reason is because i honestly like to be connected with people that way. you can learn a LOT about a person from how they interact and use facebook and other social media. i think it's a good indicator of what they are like in real life. so as annoying as some of those posts are, they really do just confirm what you originally thought about the person anyway.
but one thing is for sure, people need to stop posting pictures of their ultrasounds. that's just freaking weird.
I believe for me what is most addicting about Facebook is just being able to stay connected and in a way know how people are doing without having to ask them. I however rarely check up on people unless they are a close friend whose M.I.A.
What I like most about Facebook is being able to post and say funny things. Many people i talk to love my statuses because they find them funny or it made their day. I have never posted anything really personal because its nobody's business.
One thing I cant really remember not having social media because before Facebook it was Myspace. There's just something about being connected.
I too have every one of those friends. I can't tell you how many times I have thought the same thing about each category of person. And sometimes just sit in shock and wonder why these people put these things on Facebook. However, despite these "types" of people I love Facebook. Even with them, I love the entertainment and humor they give me. Beyond that however, I love staying updated on my friends lives. I love being able to stay in touch with people who, without Facebook, I would not communicate with. Every year on my birthday, I am shocked by the people who I get Happy Birthday messages from. People I haven't talked to in a long time, but who consider me a friend and took the time to send me a message. I have rekindled a lot of friendships with people from Elementary school and junior high that I otherwise never would have found a way to contact. And one of my favorites, I have had many a gospel conversation with friends from high school who messaged me because they know I'm mormon or who posted a said status and I felt the need to message. I think Facebook opens so many doors of communication.
I definitely have those type of people posting on my feed. But I am one of those people that looks through my feed about once a day. I keep Facebook around to stay in touch with people. As many annoying posts that there is...I find that there are more quality things that come up. I am not a huge poster, I am more of a follower who likes to just look at what others are doing. But from our class, I have to ask myself if it is really worth it to have a Facebook. Why do I? I am getting married in the Spring and am seriously considering taking off my Facebook. Why do I need it? I no longer feel that I need so socialize with so many others and the important people will keep in touch.
I have never found myself annoyed that people are using facebook to tell the world the mundane things about their day. I always just assume they are trying to reach someone else. I think that is because I have adopted a lurking habit online, I dont post anything but I view constantly. I like keeping up with people and I think for me it is easier to overlook the things I am not interested in because most of the time I dont think those people have much that would interest me in real life anyway.
First of all that comment about the album that is called "Me" was spot on, laughed out loud because its true. To answer the question, why we are on Facebook is because we love to be involved in other people's lives. It's almost like a competition for us or something. Some type of narcissistic faddish we have, with competeting with each other. There is a lot of "look at me" moments on FB, and feel that is the main reason we continue to waste valuable time on there. Everybody likes to do a little self-advertising, problem is, we do a lot of self-advertising on FB!
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