Last week in the Superlab I noticed that none of the computers I needed were available, and all of the people using them were on Facebook. This told me two things: One, that I needed to learn how to use flash drives or put files on the internet; and two, that people spend too much time on Facebook.
Seriously, go into any computer lab at any time during the day and you’re guaranteed to see at least one person browsing the site.
Not that there’s anything wrong with it. We’ve all got a Facebook account (and if you don’t, you’re behind the times and missing out), but where is the line between having fun and feeding an addiction?
It’s not surprising that there’s no medical name yet for being addicted to Facebook. What may surprise you is that more and more people are looking for therapy to help with their addiction, much like those with "real" social disorders. But what is it about Facebook that seems so tempting and (with fear I’m using the word too much) addicting?
The website is like real life, but filtered. You only need to upload the pictures that you want your friends to see, only the statuses and quotes that you want people to hear. You don’t say something dumb or awkward, and when you do you have the option to delete it. Yet you’re able to interact with friends, set dates, join groups and clubs, play games and even chat with people.
The best part, and perhaps the allure for so many older people, is that you can reconnect with people that you thought you might have lost touch with forever. Facebook’s almost like a utopia in a world of bad hair days, mismatched clothes and awkward silences.
The best thing to do to save your life in the real world would be to chuck the computer out the window. The smart thing to do would be to regulate how long you spend on social networking sites. I don’t mean keeping a log of how often and how long you’re on each application, but instead realizing when you’ve been staring at your profile for a good 30 minutes without anything changing.
When you’re on the site just to be on the site, or playing an application to procrastinate on more important things, you might want to rethink your priorities. Believe it or not, teachers will not be impressed by how much money you’ve made in Mafia Wars if you haven’t handed in an essay.
Turn off the computer and go outside into the real life networking system that we’ve already got set up. The warm-ish weather isn’t around for long, and sequestering yourself at your computer isn’t the way to spend the fall.
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