Social Networking - how ironic

What are your views are on how bad this "social networking" boom is for our culture(s) - I am in the UK.
The term itself seems such an ironic one also - the more people use FB/Twitter/Google+ - the less they actually interact socially anyway.

I have a FB account - but no longer actively use it, checking in weekly for any messages from family up north.

The mindless drivel that people spout on there is shocking - here are a few snippets from friends/family on my page.

bidding on sumat on ebay and i really really dont wana be out bid!!! ebay is just to addictive!!!!! :-/ xxxxx

Is off to bed to snuggle up to my Teddy its so much better than having a man riggling around and snoring ha ha oh the joys of being single.... Sweet dreams all X

The best ones are people talking to people living in the same house as them via FB. How odd does that seem to you? Because to me it is the weirdest thing to think that someone lacks the ability to turn around and interact with a relative/partner but instead does it via a social networking site.

Unbelievable really isn't it. At what point does it become OK that people want know this kind of mindless, inane day to day **** that people do.

Any time I have ever posted anything remotely "real world" -not too controversial - just something about MP's expenses, fuel prices, all topical news items - I get zero responses from anyone. Their minds are closed to anything beyond farmville and who has been drunk that weekend. Sad that it is like that really - people closed off to anything beyond the inane.

Here is a link to another good thread showing the sinister side to this whole area - which is not what I am talking about but it is worth reading also:
Sinister side to social networking

Here is a real funny video to show how ridiculous the whole concept is.


Tweeting in my opinion takes it to another level - encouraging users to post even shorter (140 characters) comments, like it wants the bare minimum of thought involved. I am not and will never ever use twitter - but there are plenty of inane tweets on there that are easily found via google.

Had a conversation with a like minded friend the other day and we were contemplating the future, where kids growing up nowadays completely lack the ability to socialise effectively with friends, family and colleagues because all their interaction is done via FB/Twitter/Google+/MSN Messenger/text messages...
I saw 2 work colleagues (24 and 18 years old) walk to the sandwich shop together (a good 10 min walk) both with Ipods plugged in!!!! They spent 20 minutes walking and could not seemingly converse with each other for that period. I cannot imagine doing such a thing - just seemed to highlight how anti-social people can be.

This same 24 year old occasionally gets a lift home in my car - and he will get in and put his iphone in. I have told him a few times - I consider it downright rude to be honest

Will there be a world whereby interaction becomes reduced to virtual and social skills are a mystery to people?
It's a frightening thought for me...to imagine what my kids are going to be growing up into.

I completely agree with everything you say.. And have similar concerns myself..

It's the kids I worry about, they are stuck indoors interacting with their friends, even when they live next door.
When I was a child we used to go out and play with our friends.. We never even had phones then to communicate.
We used our imaginations to make games etc

I fear this is just dumbing down of society and can have a serious effect on social human interaction in the future..

I even read somewhere that things like google are making us less intelligent as we don't have to remember information anymore, as we can just google it now..

i use facebook, but i agree some people take it too far, talking about personal life etc

reply to post by facchino


Hey,

I agree with you, the social networking sites have a lot of pro's and con's-in my opinion the cons are serious.

I found a lot of 'lost' family members through facebook and am now in regular contact with them so thats positive.

But the amount of cross selling, changing terms, changing your page without notification, the mindless games (all you do is click!), lack of privacy-all this concerns me

Not to mention, like you said, the rudeness! If I'm talking to someone then I'm talking to them and not posting random dross on facebook.
It think the emphasis on social networking sites is excessive (its on tv shows, papers, magazines, internet) and you will definitely see more socially inept people because of it.

Plus its just another way to keep your mind occupied on somehting nonsensical instead of focussing on real things, issues perpetuating the 'sheeple trap'

I think people just don't know how to use it properly and are using it as a replacement to real life. That's the main issue here.

There is nothing bad about it at all imho - the amount of people I have been able to meet which I would have never met otherwise is astounding, and my life has improved from knowing those people.


Remember in this world - its not about WHAT you know, it's about WHO you know. And frankly, it's easier to meet people on the internet than in real life, especially if you live in a remote area or traffic congested urban sprawl.

Good post, good to see someone thinks like me. Facebook has impacted society to the point where people have become socially lazy. I hate social networking to the fullest. Everyone i come across asks me if i have facebook and seems to shut me out when i say no, Why?! Because im not part of the norm of society? Because i prefer to pick up a phone or get off my butt to see someone rather then speak to them in a non existent world which is supposed to mirror the real world. How many people have died because of meeting strangers on facebook or lost their jobs due to them adding their bosses or workmates who inturn see a topic on them enjoying their day off rather then "being sick in bed" and how many family members or people do you know who post utter crap about each other starting virtual fights which impact real life, i know many. Each to their own i say but i enjoy my privacy and enjoy interacting in person, maybe im old fashioned or maybe im not ready to follow the other sheep who have set out to outdo each other by bragging about how many "friends" they have when in reality them people are numbers and will never support you in the same way a "real"person who your've befriended in real life would if you needed them.

No doubt Facebook can be extremely addictive and anti social in a realist sense.
On my Facebook I only have people I know and have jammed with. Loads of musicians,
Intelligent people and some proper funny ones. I have quite a few decent friends on Facebook
so the quality of the news feed isn't really that bad to be honest. I searched out a couple of
lame ones for you though.

I hate awful grammar and spelling.. I can't help it.

Ok I'm gonna stop counting down, it's driving me crazy knowing it's only getting a day at a time lol x

dont you hate it wen people only wanna no you for somthing aha ?

Any1 need or looking for a flat m8 ? X

Oh my lord and when people post their life stories hoping to get sympathy..

somethings are worth fighting for but wen i sit and think how mant chances can people have until it act wont work no more :/

ima do things on my own from now on coz you just proved that you aint fully grown up yet

Ugh.
They really need a dislike button on Facebook.

reply to post by Misterlondon


Yes the google side of things is worrying - what is wrong with knowing and remembering things?
I remember when I was younger - pre mobile phones and computers and internet - we just went out and played, football, on bikes, swinging from trees on a tyre we had found, whatever - never did anyone any harm but it seems a shame kids nowadays just don't seem to have that.

reply to post by soundofathousandbirds

I have had some benefits from FB myself - got in touch with some old college friends, met up and had a reunion - which was great. It isn't all bad - just people seem to swap reality for virtual reality.

reply to post by camouflaged

Yes so many people cause issues by lacking the intelligence to realise people can see their FB comments - why do people think posting about being off sick is not going to land them in trouble??

reply to post by TechUnique

Yes the grammar and spelling is diabolical. Also - why pour your heart out on there? Go and speak to a close relative, dear friend. It is actually quite pathetic. People would not walk around with a sign saying clinically depressed, just got divorced, can't cope with my workload - for people to see, so why post it on FB where people you don't really know that well (for those who have 1000 friends) can see.

*************************************
Friends - thats the other area I never got into.
Someone was bragging about their 800 friends on FB (I have 41 relatives/friends) so I said to him
"show me your friends list"
He looked suprised but opened it up - I requested he scrolled down a few pages then asked him to call this guy he had as a friend.
He replied "I can't - I dont know him that well" !!?? and this clown could not see the oddness in that statement.
Don't get why people try and befriend hundreds of people - just anyone a friend of yours knows, they link to.
That is just downright weird.
I have declined friend invites from friends of friends - because I DON'T KNOW YOU - stop asking me.

Small side topic -
It's like this constant drive for 3D/HD TV - well I have an idea, switch the TV off and go out and interact with people, in a pub, in (wait for it) actual 3D, with realistic smells and sounds. Real Life!! What a revelation. Better than any graphics could ever be off a TV or PC.

It seems to have become the place to be rather than the TOOL that it should be.

On top of what everyone has said there is the addiction factor too, and the fact that the constant posting is representative of a coming OCD and facebook separation anxiety...

Not healthy..

EDA

just posted that vid on my facebook page lol...

reply to post by CrankyPantsUK


I have just posted the video as well - interesting to see if that gains any reaction?

Hah, I deactivated my facebook account but now and then it's interesting to poke my nose around.

Funniest story so far is that of a Muslim man and former wed-in uncle(mind you I don't have anything against Muslims but this guy was a half-preacher type which is fine, but it makes the following more funny) in his 40s, commenting on a picture of a topless random woman(yeh I know, topless on facebook).

What he did not realize is that every single family member could see his comment and the picture he commented on. That includes family living in strict Muslim countries. I lol'd.

Generally speaking though, facebook is like a 85%(not factual but to give you an idea) date site. The rest is social awareness and games. Really.

Have to agree with the OP, my partner uses FB and I love giving her **** about it. She keeps hasseling me to make a FB account, but there's not way I'm going near the shenanigans. I'm hoping it's just one of the stupid fads tht come and go, hopefully we can all look back in a few years and say omg remember all those half-wits who use to sit there giving each other electronic pokes.

I absolutley despise all "social" networking sites for many reasons:

1) At my school I see people who are complete addicts to it, have 5 accounts on different sites, and only care about trying to get on facebook when given a computer in school. Some found out how and that is all that they do, no want to find out information on the debt crisis, war, etc.

2) When presented with some actual events taking place, they are clueless. No need to know anything about the debt crisis or libya, as long facebook is available to say how drunk you were at the party last weekend.

3) As you said, people just become rude. I can see you listening to your ipod when walking alone to someplace, but shouldn't you talk when somebody is with you.

4) I rather like my privacy and don't plan on posting my info anytime soon so the stalker next door or whomever can see see where I live and what hobbies I enjoy.

I personnaly have a deactivated Facebook account (haven't touched it in over 3 years) that doesn't even have a single picture uploaded, neither any friends as well. I think social networking is a way for the government to make people look away as they slowly take away freedoms, money etc. for their corporate buddies and themselves. ATS is my facebook because of the community, intelligent people actually interested in what is going on in the world. If you are really interested in this I suggest reading Feed (warning: explicit language) by M. T. Anderson, I didn't like it to much but it does almost completely describe the world we live in and the road we are on.

I'm going to take a minority view here...I really enjoy Facebook! We have a cat that we got from a friend who posted pictures on Facebook. The cat was going to the pound otherwise. I had a sofa I wanted to get rid of....put it on Facebook. It went to a recently divorced friend of a friend who I didn't even know. I am now keeping up with cousins I haven't seen in 20 years (and wouldn't go see on my own) through Facebook. Also, I feel much more like I know what's going on in my community because of Facebook.

I am actually MORE social because of Facebook. And I don't mean the fake online kind of social. My friends and I will arrange get-togethers through Facebook because it is so easy. Most of my social gatherings seem to be arranged that way now.

Another factor that might contribute to my positive experience on Facebook: most of my friends are in their 30's-40's. I don't have friends who are teenagers or who post a lot of drivel. I also know how to defriend or block people who do.

The best part of all: I have "spy" power into my kids' lives. By monitoring their Facebook accounts, I can see who their friends are and how they interact with one another. We've had many conversations about things they or their friends posted. I think it is helping me parent better because I know what the issues are.

Now, I will add one thing...I do still worry about my kids somewhat. One of them spends a lot of time (as much as we will allow...) online Skyping with friends and playing games with them. (Of course, he does have 1 friend over now and 3 more are coming this afternoon, so they do still get together.) The main thing I worry about is the permanence of the internet...once you put something out there, it is out of your control. I hope they are learning these lessons before they do something stupid.

Originally posted by facchino


Here is a real funny video to show how ridiculous the whole concept is.

I did love that video. Ironically, I am going to post it to Facebook.

I agree, it would be ridiculous if Facebook WERE as intrusive as in the video. However, you actually have to GO to the site to see what people post. It doesn't interrupt your life in any way (unless you are obsessed and keep it up constantly.)

You can also block things like Farmville (which I have done) when they annoy you.

reply to post by GeorgiaGirl


Yes I posted it to FB as well - just to see if there was any response to it.
True - FB is only as intrusive as you allow it to be, but it seems some people do allow it to become as intrusive as the video portrays...
There is actually a better video regarding both FB and Twitter - but I just couldn't find it again anywhere.

Thanks for all the replies so far glad to see a lot of like minded people in here

I wrote a similar today thread on BTS

It seems that it was a prophetic act as facebook has caused me no end of trouble today that nearly ended up in fisticuffs with my brother just an hour ago!

A missunderstanding online nearly caused me to have to throw my brother out of my house!

I hate that bloody site

I have deleted my account.

reply to post by CrankyPantsUK


yes good move - it can be evil. We had a big family dust up with some comments wrote about me on there from my brothers girlfriend (2 years ago know) and I haven't spoke to either of them since.

I noticed in another post about an issue in Birmingham you are a fellow Coventrian I believe?

Also - it seems that several people are already posting about FB - you did, I did and another one has just appeared on the New Topics section.

Originally posted by facchino

The best ones are people talking to people living in the same house as them via FB. How odd does that seem to you? Because to me it is the weirdest thing to think that someone lacks the ability to turn around and interact with a relative/partner but instead does it via a social networking site.

This is really odd, and it is also odd that people actually do this and think it is normal. I do not have a Facebook account, and I have actually lost friends because of this. There was one person in particular would not understand why I did not have time to play Farmville (think that what it is called), and when I could not be convinced that it was soooo fun, this person got mad at me and said I was antisocial.

How ironic, I am antisocial because I would rather go out and actually do things, than talk to supposed friends on Facebook. It does seem like a good way to be connected to friends and family, but I deleted my account because everyone who had my e-mail wanted to friend me, and then have their friends friend me, etc., so I quit because I did not want to upset people, and it was just easier to say I do not have the time for Facebook.

While attending an outdoor music festival last weekend, I noticed everyone was playing with their electronic toys and I wondered how we got to the point where one cannot enjoy music on a beautiful day, without texting, checking e-mail or doing whatever it is people were doing. I also see this while I am hiking. How sad.

When I was younger, we went outside to have fun, and it was considered kind of a punishment to be stuck inside. It is funny that now it is kind of the opposite, it is considered unthinkable to not have internet access, television or video games. It just seems like this cannot be healthy and makes me wonder about the long term effects on society.