Social Networking Sites and Their Meanings
While sitting in our 486 Social Media class this week and also reading the article by Danah Boyd: http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2009/08/16/twitter_pointle.html
I couldn’t help but feel some sort of way about Social Networking Sites. Let me explain. I currently, am not a facebook user. …. I know, shocking. I deactivated my facebook last September and to be perfectly honest i’ve been happy without it.
So why did I deactivate my facebook, you may ask. Well, I understand that things, especially technology, are always changing and improving. Yet, when I logged onto facebook, I felt like something was ALWAYS changing everytime I logged on. … I know some of you know what i’m talking about. Everytime you logged in there was something new with the mini-feed or they changed the presentation and organization of mini-feed and profile pages. You used to be able to block certain people from seeing what you wrote, way back in the day, and now you cant even do that anymore. They’ve changed alot of the privacy setting. I do beleive that if the privacy setting are used correctly, that you’re information will be somewhat safe, I mean if its on the interent, how safe is it really?
Anyways, back to the topic. I started to log onto facebook less and less, not only because of the privacy setting but because I realized what it was becoming. Not necessarily saying that what it is now is a bad thing, it’s just not my cup of tea.
I thought it was awkwardly funny that parents were joining, but it was to be expected. It was no longer a social network for our generation but now something for everyone around the world no matter how young or old. Once again, none of this is what really bothered me.
What got me… businesses were starting to use facebook to look up potential employees. I really didnt like this. I remember facebook being a tool to keep in touch, post pictures, and say what was on your mind. Not a tool to go onto someone’s page, and judge them based on the fun they were having in their pics and the comments that were written on their page. I think its inappropriate for companies to use this social media site and other social sites, which were meant for something fun, and use it against people. It wasnt made for that.
As for twitter, I never had a twitter account until I joined the class. Its catchy, I kind of like it, but im still getting the hang of things. Now, I remember hearing in class that the meaning of twitter was branded by its users. People would tweet about whatever that was on their mind or whatever they were doing. So it was basically a bunch of facebook status updates. Cool.
Yet, in class, I kept hearing about everything you shouldnt do and what you shouldnt say. But i thought twitter was made exactly for that reason. Oh but wait, we cant say certain things because those same companies that were checking on your profile on facebook have now crossed over to twitter and are still doing the same things. Isnt that grand. So now, I have to watch what I say because of companies and corporations. Where’s the freedom in that?
Like Danah said twitter users “They want to know what the people around them are thinking and doing and feeling. They want to share their state of mind and status so that others who care about them feel connected.”
Why does it have to be censored?
I know that things change, so it is what it is. Im not hating, and i know i may sound a little traditional and old, but thats how I feel.
And although i may not use one site or the other, i would like to believe that I still know whats going on.
