The immense popularity of the social network Facebook has generated a lot of additional business, including the celebrated book and movie, but also some other activities that are less widely publicized, like the study regarding the Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD). While the study is still in the works and other psychologists go rampant on dangers of online dependency, the actual question here is why do people use Facebook so much and why it is so incredibly popular? Why do people rather spend time on Facebook, instead of going out and actually mingling with people in person?
Overview
The situation for singles to socialize has become very complicated in the last couple of decades. Sexual harassment lawsuits, AIDS, financial crisis and dozens of other factors have limited the possibilities of young adults to approach each other and to interact in previously acceptable manners. More and more people connect, interact and socialize through bulletin boards, forums, emails and now also social networks. Contrary to personal interaction, hiding behind the internet allows the interested individual to present him- or herself in best possible manner, with best possible, even altered personas, avatars if you like, and most inhibitions that exist in the real world do not apply anymore.
Addiction
Such virtual existence can become addictive. There are several computer “games” that simulate real life, like Sim City, Second Life, even the immensely popular Star Wars has their own internet universe opened for escaping the everyday life, 24 hours, seven days a week, be a Jedi or Yoda, Jabba the Hutt or any of the members of the Star Wars universe in the online game Star Wars Galaxies. Your own personality forgotten, guaranteed. There are plenty of other online multiplayer games available, Counterstrike or Quake, that do not require you to establish a persona, just go around and shoot your opponents, but no less addictive and no less popular.
Social networking
There is nothing to install, in order to start interacting with people on Facebook. You just create your profile with a few clicks and you are there. You can mail and message your friends, find long lost connections, see pictures of people who are far away and do other very good and useful things. The problem starts when you suppress and neglect your regular life in order to hang around on Facebook. Yes, perhaps people who would not talk to you in person did answer your post on Facebook, but that does not mean that you are suddenly “in”. On the other hand, you really can talk to people, or at least post on their wall, who are generally out of your reach, up to certain celebrities who maintain their own Facebook page themselves, or at least visit frequently.
Bottom line
Do not allow an alternate reality to rule your life, no matter how close to the real thing it is. Keep everything within good measure and you will not become an addict. If you find out that you missed school or work because of Facebook, that you neglected to sleep because of Facebook, that you have not eaten and cried for two days if your status has not been liked by a single friend, then you do have a problem. Facebook, like the internet in general, is a great tool and a wonderful possibility to stay in touch with people. Use it as such, but go out and live as well. The world is beautiful, more beautiful than an LCD screen can display and real social interaction is way better than the artificial compensation called Facebook.
Guest article written by: Lurie., webmaster of a downloadastro.com/.
Good Article. I agree that every person on facebook or twitter needs to be careful of not crossing the fine line into addiction. The key is to use it in moderation.
Don’t think I’m addicted to Facebook. I do visit it often just to see what my friends have been doing or sharing. I don’t play those Farmville games or anything there 🙂
and yeah, I can stand not looking at Facebook for hours if I know I shouldn’t
Facebook is a tough one. It’s the largest social media tool in the world, followed only by Twitter in size and popularity. But Facebook is also a placeholder for a lot of people: it’s easier to just type “Happy Birthday!” rather than actually take time out of your day to give someone a call, or go have lunch. So it’s gotten to be a sort of voyeuristic and removed form of friendship and interacting.
I can see how people would be addicted.
Delena
Facebook and twitter is addictive, that’s the reality. But, people must know that real life still exist beyond the social networking profiles of them.
You’ve selected a great topic to write on. No doubt, Facebook is harming our relations, no time to contact our friends, relatives personally. Facebook is helping us out in many ways, but efforts must be made to avoid its addiction.
I think everything is fine if you don’t spend whole days following what’s on facebook or twitter. The main thing is not to share too many personal information. I use it to get in touch with my friends and family, I don’t add unknown people to friends list too and my profile is totally private.
I used to be an addicted facebook user. I was in facebook for at least 4 hours a day.
But the worst thing is what we all do when we are in facebook.
We chat with our friends for hours from the computer. Can’t we get into a pub and chat there, that we we can socialize.
That’s the reality, but none of us, including me, are applying this
I am not really a Facebook addict but i know who are always logged on to the site through their mobiles. Their status message change every minute and are totally crazy about it! They forget everything and just keep on chatting or uploading and tagging photos on it!! Its really crazyyy!!
Thats TRUE and this virus named as FACEBOOK is very speedly booming among the folks. Now the situations is like that ONE can not eat MEAL then its fine but not LOGIN once in a day in facebook is not Tolerated.
Such a speedy growth and popularity of this S.N sites are going to proves very dangerous for society. This is just a BEGINING god knows what is going to HAPPEN in future if more such types of Sites are launched.
not everyone addicted to Facebook. only the persons without work will be addicted, i am addicted to it:)
Not every one is face book addicted only the students and online marketer will be addicted.
Have you seen the South Park episode about FaceBook? 🙂
No, sorry, I haven’t seen it. Is it any good/fun?
You could say that I was addicted to it when facebook first came out. I only use it now to contact certain people and friends. I go through periods when using or not using it at all, depends on what I am doing with it.
Yeah, same here more or less. Of course I also use it for TechPatio.com purposes, but I don’t play any games, quizzes etc. in there any more.
You can watch it here:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s14e04-you-have-0-friends
It is fun but it has the truth in it.
Please delete the previous comment, there is keyword in it…
That southpark episode “You have 0 friends…” is kinda of funny in a sad way!
We have a post about this at our blog. Here’s the link: http://www.elevatedthird.com/blog/when-its-time-slow-things-down
I have to say I was a facebook addict haha
I deleted my account about 3 months ago. I feel much better. I have a lot more time on my hands lol
I like facebook and as much as I can, I visit my account. When I’m working, It takes lot of my time because i keep visiting facebook but i don’t think I am addicted to it, because when I have something more important, I don’t visit it for a couple of days.
I use Facebook quite abit but am not addic…hold on – let me check my status, one sec. lol. I’m not addicted, but I do love Facebook and believe everyone should be on it. In moderation of course.
Cheers,
Missy
Please check your email regarding this article admin.
BTW, why do you say you are a dofollow blog? The comment link is nofollow 🙁
The CommentLuv link is do-follow, so real bloggers will benefit from leaving a comment. The link on the name field is nofollow due to abuse from people who think their name is “free virus removal software” etc.
I see your thinking. I think it’s a bit deceiving saying “This blog is ‘dofollow’.” don’t you?
Keep the CommentLuv though 🙂
Well, it is do-follow 🙂 The CommentLuv links are do-follow and the “top commenters” links in the right column are do-follow too. I might bring it back on the name again eventually, but then it will require X posts before it comes do-follow, to avoid those people who just come by to leave a “great article!”-ish comment to get a link.
A great plugin called Link Love can do that 😉
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
EDIT: No plugins found when searching within wordpress, “link love” …
don’t think it’s an official one… it’s used here 🙂
http://www.philosophy.christopher-roberts.co.uk/
I admit that i am addicted to Facebook. One reason maybe because this social networking site help me a lot sharing my feeling to anyone and i can communicate easily to my friend and relatives.
I’m not addicted because I hate it.But because of my friends I joined it.
I don’t spend my time on it
Never been to facebook.
Guess I’m not addicted.
I haven’t even started with facebook 🙂 much less being addicted to it. I read so many posts about dangers of the network and trying to figure out if benefits outweigh the possible problems….
Does it actually helps to have a facebook account?
I believe Twitter is easier to get addicted to than Facebook. However, the big advantage for Facebook is their picture tagging.
I can tell you from a business owner standpoint there are many businesses that are addicted to trying to figure out how to utilize facebook. With all the new social media and things changing so rapidly it is hard to decide from a business standpoint what things are relevant and deserve time and money. I heard someone recently say, that missing out on social media or coming in to the game very late from a business standpoint could be like not having a website for your business when everyone else is already selling online.
I can say with all certainty, that I am not a FaceBook addict.
I am not addict too in facebook. I have some responsibility in work, home and my family. I know when is the right time to visit my account…
Great post! I’ve noticed that when I’m bored, Facebook catches me a little too much. And I try to escape this trap and take a walk outside instead. Or have a real chat with friends over a cup of something. 🙂
Facebook addiction is common thing to people having job which require to use internet. I see FaceBook as a one of the biggest market place to get quick response of any products. Due to its continuously engaging visitors, people have started using it for business as well along with social networking.
If you want to increase your social influence then tagging photos and status updates won’t help you that much , you need to follow these tips awesome and quite useful tips thanks!
I think people should care more about “notification addiction”
Facebook is a very useful as well s dangerous platform. Yeh! I was also addicted a year before. I used to spend half of my time in social media and facebook. I don’t even know what I used to do & I think its just common to all. But if I talk about its usefulness than I must say I got many valuable information from various users.
10 years later and it seems this has even worsened in the wake of the pandemic. We all need to work to taking digital detox from time to time because of the negative effects of heavy social media usage on health and the fact that it is counterproductive.