Final+Project,+Katie+Warren

Katie Warren CIS 125w Summer 2012

**Facebook: The Positive and Negative Impacts On Lives**

Facebook is a social media site that is now a part of almost everyone's daily life. For young adults especially, and those looking to reconnect with old friends or even spark up a new relationship. Facebook brings in various types of individuals from middle school aged, to older adults. But everyone is there for mostly the same intentions: connections, and self expression. Facebook gives you the opportunity to congratulate friends on their birthdays, announce celebrations, invite friends to get together, have everyday chats, and much more.  With all the exciting and entertaining things we get to see everyday on Facebook, we forget that all around the world people are also having much different experiences with it. Young girls and boys are getting bullied, predators are stalking young kids acting as someone different, and blackmail has turned viral. Are these things so bad though, when all we see is our own news feeds everyday, no harmful hate mail, no bullying?  Of the most exciting and warming part of Facebook is being able to easily interact with your friends and family that you don't get to see everyday. You can comment on their wall, or write a message, poke, or send pictures to them. Facebook has made it so easy to reach the ones we love which is so important when we have such busy lives today. The instant messenger on Facebook has made it even easier, with a click of a button you can chat with your friends and family.It would be an understatement to say that Facebook isn't a widely used social media network, similar to MySpace. There are currently 250 million users on Facebook today. Each person who signs up for Facebook is adding to the Facebook world of interaction, connections, and sometimes the negative aspects of bullying. Mark Zuckerberg (employee at Facebook) states, “So today as we celebrate our 250 millionth user, we are also continuing to develop Facebook to serve as many people in the world in the most effective way possible. This means reaching out to everyone across the world and making products that serve all of you, wherever you are—whether through Facebook Connect, new mobile products and the other things that we are building.”  It is true that Facebook has mostly impacted us positively, but there is some information left out. Facebook has become a playground for bullies, predators to kids, a place to waste precious time, a place to stalk ex-friends, and a way of misrepresenting yourself. When kids create Facebook's they're not really informed on what they're getting themselves into. Many middle school aged kids and younger jump into the network in order to follow a fad. But many kids are getting bullied over Facebook, and receiving negative attention from both boys and girls. It's easy for kids to comment on pictures or write messages without the face to face interaction and say really mean things.  Facebook is also a really easy place for sexual predators to lurk. They can hide their identity, talk to young kids, and schedule times to meet up and trap them. Which leads to criminal charges and civil suites against Facebook. Brad stone from The New York Times states, “In early July, this person opened a fake account on the site, posing as a 15-year-old girl named Jerri Gelson from North Carolina. The photograph on the fake profile page is of an under-age girl whose hair conceals her face. On the profile page, Ms. Gelson — whom the “concerned parent” said was not a real person — is described as looking for “random play” and “whatever I can get.”  Facebook is also a really easy way to waste time either at work or at home. Many people sit on their computers and watch other people living their lives via Facebook. Facebook has a very easy way of taking over your mind. Facebook can consume you, by making you want to post pictures, and share your lives story to people you think will understand. In all reality it's just a website with people doing the same thing you are; posting exciting pictures, exciting stories, while some are sad or angry most are expressing how great their lives are. This can make a person get the “grass is greener” effect.  Also, while you have the world of your friends at your fingertips you also have the ease of lurking and stalking ex's, old friends, and anybody else you have access to. Facebook is also an easy way to get jealous, end relationships, and cyber cheat. I know that many relationships have ended because the temptations over Facebook are way too easy. Cheryl Wetstein from the Washington Times states, “At least 20 couples in his 1,100-member congregation had developed marital problems after a spouse connected with an old flame via Facebook, explained, who is married.”  Although Facebook has it's many cons, temptations, and dangers, overall it has many positive aspects as well. Many people have found old friends from high school, started new relationships, found mates who they eventually marry and enjoy the everyday life that Facebook brings. Facebook is an enjoyable place to roam, and express yourself. It's an easy way to chat with friends and family, announce special occasions, and create invites. Facebook is also a great place to play games with friends. “For those who are less than super-social (um, like me), Facebook and other social media sites provide a great way to integrate more social interaction in their lives. Social interaction is key for human happiness; after all, we're designed to be social creatures. So, for those not as keen on the face-to-face stuff, Facebook provides an alternative way to get a daily dose of being social.” (PositivelyPresent Website).  Before Facebook there was [|MySpace], and even then we found the same problems and enjoyable aspects present. But mostly we use Facebook because it's a fad, and a happening thing for people to keep up with the latest and greatest. Many businesses use it to target customers, and therefor customers get free deals and discounts. Facebook is like the world but online, and many perks come with that. Many local businesses in Eugene, and chain businesses are finding it beneficial to target customers by advertising their businesses via Facebook. Fletcher's in Eugene does a monthly drawing of the people who have "liked" their page and the special winner collects a $20 [|Fletcher's] gift card. [|Dot Dotsons] in Eugene gives discounts to customers to like their page. Facebook is a great tool for business owners to use to draw in customers. All the benefits are greatly appreciated, and there would be no other way to get such perks without Facebook. For 32 ways to use Facebook for Business click here.  Facebook is a wonderful creation which started very small and grew to overcome MySpace. It has drawn in users that want to reconnect with old friends, make new ones and express themselves through posts, and their profiles. Facebook has given many people the ability to interact when they otherwise would not. Facebook has also caused some dangers, a difficulties. With all good comes a little hardship, and Facebook has shown to overall, create a welcoming and enjoyable social media site for all those that are interested.     Posted By Katie Warren <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Mark Suckerberg, Now Connecting 250 Million People, //The Facebook Blog,15 July, 2009. Web 9 Sept, 2012.// <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">//[]// <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> Brad Stone. "New Scrunity For Facebook Over Predators." Media and Advertising. 30 July. 2007. Web. 9 Sept 2012. []

Pro Con List. Pros and Cons of Facebook. March 2011. Web. 09 Sept 2012. []

Cheryl Wetzstein. "Facing Temptation on Facebook." Culture. 10 Dec.2010. Web. 9 Sept 2012. []

Positively Present. Is Facebook Positive? The Good and Bad of Logging on. Web. 9 Sept 2012. []

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