Facebook Is Dangerous (Though I’m Now A Customer)

For at least 6 years, I have been vowing to stay away from Facebook because, well, I have studied mass communication. With all of my reading and writing on things like media law, media ethics, and media education, I realize Facebook is much more dangerous and troublesome than it seems. In fact, the entire  “social media” phenomena is just a bad idea on from many perspectives.

First, I’m certain that the field of psychology has not had time to come to any conclusions about the implications of discussions  that were once almost always private — such as those regarding love relationships or other sensitive, vulnerable topics — now being regularly conducted in a public forum.

Next, a quick review of any day’s news makes it obvious that ethicist and lawmakers have not yet come to any reasonable conclusions about how breaches that are now routine — for example the malicious editing and distribution of photos — should be addressed by society.

And even etiquette and safety experts have not had a lot of luck convincing Facebook users to stay off their accounts while they’re, say, ordering dinner, watching a movie, or even driving.

Oh yes, and  I haven’t even mentioned the Orwellian fiasco of having millions of people’s  love relationships, family photos, and even livelihoods held hostage by the whims of a single corporation. I bet a huge percentage of Facebook users have never even heard of George Orwell, in fact.

But I am trying to build a business. And Facebook is just something that businesses have to do these days.

So, after 6 years of trying to ignore social media, I finally set up my Facebook page last week. And, what do you know, I’ve got business potential after-all.

All it took was a few “likes,” and this website is finally seeing some action. Between 100-150 different computers have accessed this site each day since I became active on Facebook. Before that, the number was always less than 50.

As my articles start earning more “likes” from Facebook users, the audience will grow exponentially, and my little writing, teaching and technology consulting business will finally take off.

I’m starting to find myself thinking, “Man, this Facebook thing ain’t so bad afterall. Look at all the people who are welcoming me in, look at all the old friends I can now re-establish relations with, and look at all the business potential!”

But then, at lunch with my parents this afternoon, I remembered why Facebook is still a bad idea.

My father is entirely frustrated by computers and has long decided that it’s hopeless for him to even try to use anything on the internet.

My mother is not quite that stubborn, but email is about her limit. I’ve told her three times this week that I’m sure she would love Facebook. But she is not interested.  She can stay in touch with everyone she needs the “old fashioned” ways: email and telephone.

So, as I grow in my use of Facebook, I will be missing opportunities to grow with my parents.  If I’m not careful, this will have disastrous — if mostly unnoticed —  consequences for my family.

Likewise, I just had an interesting conversation with my Aunt Mary.

“Hi Aunt Mary. I’ve just gotten on Facebook and I’ve been trying to “friend” you, but you’re not responding. Do you ever get on your page.”

“Don, you’re about the umpteenth person that’s told me something like that. I didn’t even know I had a page! I never get on it. In fact, my friend Gene is the one who stays on it all the time, and she’s the one who tells me what’s going on with my granddaughters and their families.”

“Well, I think you’d really enjoy Facebook. It’s a great way to stay in touch with people.”

“I’ll probably get back on there sometime soon.”

I am almost certain that she won’t.

And, well, that should be okay. But losing touch with one’s family and friends is just not okay. It’s the key symptom of Future Shock.

So, while Facebook promises to make my life easier, more enjoyable, it’s actually only made more work for me. Now, if I want to stay connected to all of my family, I have to spend a lot of time maintaining my Facebook page and still spend much time staying in touch with my Dad, Mom and Aunt Mary (and probably many others) through other means.

Whew. This is exhausting me already.

Future Shock is tough to deal with. Especially when most of the rest of our world behaves as if it’s not a real problem after all.

Reading note: This article inspired by Chapters 2-3 of  the classic book Future Shock by Alvin Toffler.