Question for FB users

[FionaH]

Mr TS was adamantly anti-FB. Now he's Tweeting too

Now tweeting I just can't get my head round

[Two_Sheds]

me neither. He's just dead chuffed that Stephen Fry sends him tweets

[rustylady]

me neither. He's just dead chuffed that Stephen Fry sends him tweets

Ye Gods, he's easily pleased isn't he?

[Two_Sheds]

oh yes


thank goodness

[Garden_Chris]

it's most useful when your friends & family are 100s of miles away

Granted, except, the majority of users do not use it to keep it touch with family members. It's more to update others on social happenings, "drunken" mishaps and social promiscuity (think along the lines of 1,200 Friends = I'm a lot more social, popular, etc, than you).

There's the occasional story of some idiot posting how much they hate their boss (which then gets circulated to said boss), or someone who's been dumb enough to post about their affairs and then their marriage crashes ... it's no better or worse than tittle-tattle and gossip 'face to face'

Again, granted, yes this is occasionally the case. However, when you approach Facebook from the Student, or youth orientated view - and this is especially the case across University students (19-22) - you would be amazed at the social degradation that takes place amongst 'friends'.

Relationship Status, Status Updates with hidden meanings, it all becomes very manipulative. I've heard girls saying "If he's not update his Facebook to say he's in a relationship with you, you might as well ditch him". Honestly, I'm not lying. I couldn't believe my ears. It scares me that tittle-tattle gossip, in one ear and out the other, is now recorded for all to see - and in many cases, encouraged to ensure drama is prevalent in friendship groups.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not dead set against it - if you use it to simply share photos with family members, that's fantastic - but for social alienation, embarrassment and the dismissal from friendship groups, I see no other wrecker quite like Facebook.

Maybe I'm a little overly cautious, but it's only because I've seen what I've stated above first hand.

[rustylady]

Granted, except, the majority of users do not use it to keep it touch with family members.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not dead set against it - if you use it to simply share photos with family members, that's fantastic - but for social alienation, embarrassment and the dismissal from friendship groups, I see no other wrecker quite like Facebook.

Do you have any statistics to prove your theory about what people use FB for Chris? And as for FB wrecking relationships, I would say it is the irresponsible use of Facebook that does that, not FB itself.

[zazen999]

People have been doing the 'if he hasn't done X then Y' since forever. It's not facebook's fault that eejits use it.

[Alison]

Agreed it's not facebooks fault in the same way that marriage break ups when people got in touch with their first love from school via Friends Reunited (anybody remember that now?) was the fault of that system. However you do have a responsibility for the way you use any of these tools and if you have children then you need to teach them how to use them safely and appropriately. I have an account as a way of seeing photos etc from family members and friends across the globe. I keep my security levels high (and not what facebook thinks is high) and am selective with whom I chose as my friends - if I wouldn't socialise with them in the real world then I don't want to online and certainly am extremely careful with accepting friends from work. I am amazed at how lax some people are. I don't have any stats either but the stuff that some of my God children / young relatives etc post without thinking does cause problems. They'd have always said such things but in the past it would have been to a few friends, not on their all too often totally open pages. There is no way I'd want a young child to have a page and would strongly resist anybody I knew allowing somebody under 13 access. My brother had several friend requests from friends of his then underage daughter who he didn't know and had often never met. This seemed totally unacceptable to him and he spoke to their parents who in the most didn't seem to care who their child contacted. This seems to me to be poor parental guidance and a real cause for concern that sites such as facebook make easier to exploit. Rather worrying in my oppinion.

[Garden_Chris]

Do you have any statistics to prove your theory about what people use FB for Chris? And as for FB wrecking relationships, I would say it is the irresponsible use of Facebook that does that, not FB itself.

As far as my points of view were concerned, it was through my own friendship groups and the experiences I have observed and heard about that shaped my earlier response. I don't mean to suggest my experiences are mandatory and representative of society as a whole, and my assumption was that most people within a certain age bracket fall into stereotypes. So no, I have no statistics with regards to what people use it for, but, I can make an estimate based upon other statistics that I'll outline below and what I know of my own peers.

In this presentation, at slide 10/16 you can see the vast majority of Facebook users in the USA are between the age range of 18 - 24, perhaps the least likely individuals to be using Facebook for contacting relatives, rather, their friends. 71% of individuals (slide 9/16) examined are in some form of Lower to Higher forms of education. From my personal experiences, those people who fall between those age ranges do not often contact family members, rather family members contact them.

Something I found to be interesting, yet, unsurprising:
You can find at 00:19 in this video is 48% of 18 - 34 year olds check Facebook as soon as they wake up. If someone you knew needed a cigarette when they woke up in the morning, you'd most likely say they have a problem.

I do completely agree with you Rustylady, it is irresponsible use of Facebook which wrecks relationships, however, as I've been told by numerous people (and I'm sure the above statistic can testify to my next point) Facebook is addictive. Once you're sucked in, it's difficult to break away.

Call me old fashioned, but nothing beats a good old fashion telephone call. But, as highlighted above, unless of course, it's over seas - in which case, I can see the use of other means.

[Two_Sheds]

the majority of users do not use it to keep it touch with family members.

Er, wrong I'm afraid. The biggest group of FB users are 18-25, very closely followed by the 26-34 age range, then by the 35-44s. The biggest growing group of users is women over 55 source: FB's own statistics

Girls are bitchy, always were always will be. FB just makes it easier for nasty people to be nastier. However, it is perfectly possible to ignore these people, block them, and make it impossible for them to tag photos of you

If someone you knew needed a cigarette when they woke up in the morning, you'd most likely say they have a problem.... Facebook is addictive. Once you're sucked in, it's difficult to break away.

What utter nonsense darlink. I brush my teeth as soon as I wake up: I'm not addicted to toothpaste. Checking FB is just a habit, a morning ritual: turn news on, eat breakfast, open emails (messages) while waking up.

The average user spends just 55 mins on FB a day. You're more likely to get addicted to the Grapevine

[Garden_Chris]

Er, wrong I'm afraid. The biggest group of FB users are 18-25, very closely followed by the 26-34 age range, then by the 35-44s. The biggest growing group of users is women over 55 source: FB's own statistics

That's lovely, except, how am I wrong? You provide no statistic to disprove my point, other than repeat what I've already said about age groups in the post above. The majority of users between the ages of 18 - 24 don't use it to contact their family members. Outside of that age range may well do, but I'm not contesting that.

What utter nonsense. I brush my teeth as soon as I wake up, I'm not addicted to toothpaste. Checking FB is just a habit, a morning ritual. Turn news on, get breakfast, open emails (messages) while waking up.

Although there are no statistics on "Facebook addiction" -- it isn't an actual medical diagnosis -- therapists say they're seeing more and more people like Newton who've crossed the line from social networking to social dysfunction.

[Florence Fennel]

Sorry, I posted the question to see what folks thought about an under 13 being allowed to see some very adult posting, I didn't mean to instigate a "to FB or not to FB" that's up to the individual. I guess you could say I'm addicted to the Vine, but that's no bad thing as far as I'm concerned. I cook cabbage for a very short time, or it goes mushy, but some people like it mushy don't they?

[di]

No offence to Newton...I've never met him and not entirely sure who he is...but could he maybe already have had slight social issues anyway?
I'm not going to argue a case for FB...I think it's either for you or not and don't really see the point in you trying to condem something that actually many people use in the appropriate manner and get a lot out of.I'd be bored witless without it during the days when the kiddies are at school.

.....and yes...13

[Florence Fennel]

You need to get in here more Di, we're good for boredom

[Garden_Chris]

Sorry, I posted the question to see what folks thought about an under 13 being allowed to see some very adult posting, I didn't mean to instigate a "to FB or not to FB" that's up to the individual. I guess you could say I'm addicted to the Vine, but that's no bad thing as far as I'm concerned. I cook cabbage for a very short time, or it goes mushy, but some people like it mushy don't they?

Ah it's my fault, I've got very strong feelings about Facebook (as I'm sure anyone whose read this thread are now well aware of). I apologise for de-railing your thread, and to TS - and whoever else I've disagreed with. Of course it is up to the individual as to what you do with Facebook, and those who become obsessed, or engrossed with it is entirely their decision. My over arching theme is that when used incorrectly, the consequences of it upon your life aren't kind, that's all. With direct relevance to this thread, I believe you are right - the adult topics available for consumption on Facebook aren't something you want a thirteen year old reading.