Two days ago I came across an interesting post and I’d like to share it with you.
Here’s Adam Cecils article “Can You Survive College Without Using Facebook?”
It explores the question you all surely had in your mind at one point in your virtual social life: Can I survive without Facebook?
In the article the author talks to two college student who gave up on Facebook.
While I find the post very informative I’d also like to shake my head:
“To be honest, I wasn’t even sure it was possible to survive without a Facebook.
How would I know when I friends’ birthdays are?
How would I get invited to parties?
How would I keep in touch with friends from high school or abroad?
How would I know which of my kindergarten classmates now have two or more children?” [ Adam Cecil, “Can you survive College without using Facebook?”]
Well, Facebook isn’t the world. There had been a pre-Facebook life. I was born in the 90’s, if I can still remember it, so should others (unless you were too young of course). The first time I heard about Facebook was when our exchange students from London visited Germany and asked whether we had Facebook. Back then most people in my school used Schüler VZ,
it’s similar to Facebook but I like to think they were spying less. (And I’m quite sure even they collected data). Anyway, we were a small group of 12 girls and a boy who then
made a Facebook account because it seemed so cool and ‘British’ – yeah.
That was in 2009. After half a year I haven’t been using Facebook because I didn’t like it. So did my friends. Then someday in 2011 I believe, Facebook was revived. It felt like the whole
school got a Facebook account overnight. So I came back, because Schüler VZ was now dying. So that’s my Facebook story. Originally I planned on deleting my account after finishing High School but then everything university related was posted at Facebook, we had groups – and I stayed. Perhaps I’m to weak. But to be honest: without Facebook most of my friends would probably be living an isolated life. Because they’re not used to other forms of communication or don’t like it – whatever. Laziness always finds a way.
I for example like talking in person or one the phone. I also like using skype.
But now back to that little exerpt. What bugs me are these questions. If you think about it we’ve all become little stalkers.
I’ll try and answer his questions:
1. birthdays:
How about a calendar if you can’t remember any dates? And if you’re good with remembering numbers: Why would you want a program to remind you when your best friend’s birthday is?
2. parties:
I don’t know if this depends on the area you live in. Here, you mostly get invited in person, you take a look at posters or you could always text your friends. And if they’re your friends they could also text or call you. Oh and most clubs have websites with all the important dates. Facebook is really my last resource when it comes to parties.
3. keep in touch:
Well, I’d almost say touché, but no. What about text messages? Skype? ICQ? Videochat? Email? Or good old letter? I bet your friend abroad would just love a handwritten letter!
4. kindergarten classmates with children:
Why would you care? Would you talk to them if there wasn’t a thing called Facebook? That’s what I mean when I said we’ve all become little stalkers. Or to put it in another way:
Why are we so nosy? Is our own life so boring that we need to be a part of everyone else’s? Is the need to compare oneself to others so strong?
What is it? If you know an answer, let me know! It’ll be something I’d be really interested in.
Now this part gave me hope – I like that girl!
‘ Keeping in touch? “People who actually care about me will seek me out in other ways,” she told me.
What about wishing people a happy birthday? She memorizes the birthdays that actually matter to her, she told me ‘
It’s exactly what I think! If you think She doesn’t use any social media – you’re wrong! She still has Twitter.
‘ […] Twitter “retains the fun of spewing thoughts, but without the ability of others to comment on them without replying in a new tweet.”
This cuts down on people responding for the sake of responding and instead encourages actual conversation.
[…] Mark Zuckerberg has often described Facebook’s news feed as a kind of newspaper of your friends –
if that’s Facebook, Brianna countered, then Twitter is like a note that she passes to someone in class.
This is actually a nice thought. But I wonder how much time they spend now on Twitter. They’re not using Facebook, okay. But aren’t they spending
their ‘Facebook hours’ now on Twitter? I would have liked to know if they spend less time on the internet with social media. If they do, then it’s really
great, but if they didn’t then it’s just a change of platform, right?
Anyway I find the post thought provoking and that’s why I shared it with you guys, hoping you’ll also like it. After reading it, I certainly spend some time reflecting
my ‘virtual social life’ behaviour. I would like to share what I found in the depths of my human brain in the future, because I’m not done yet.
Last, but not least: Which social media websites do you use? And how much time to you spend on them each day? How much do you like them?
Here’s my list:
Facebook – I use it for talking with my friends and planning work, I’m not a fan of it and I often rant about it. hours a day vary from 0 to 2 hours (when I’m active and writing, I don’t count the hours when FB is a little tab in the background)
Animexx – This is where I write in RPGs for fun, most active in the evening hours 0 – 4 hours a day (depends on who’s online and whom I can write with). I love it!
Pinterest – My number 1 resource for anything idea-related. Still I don’t spend a lot of time there everyday. I rather spend a couple of hours once, when I need something. Love it
Twitter – I spent like….10minutes on Twitter everyday. My phone only sends me specific tweets. Once in a week I probably check my feed. I still like it somehow.
5by – a nice video app. I watch a lot of short films there for inspiration. Probably 30min a day. I like it very much.
WordPress – at least 1 hour each day to write a post, another hour for reading other blogs. Well I wouldn’t be here, if I didn’t like it ;)
Deviantart – twice a day just to check notes or upload and comment art. It’s okay.
You may see that I often use social media websites as tools. I’m not someone who spents hours on commenting or making posts anywhere else but here.
I just don’t want to waste so much of my valuable time – time I could be spending drawing, going outside, meeting friends, relaxing and a lot of other different things.
Now off you go and treat yourself to some hours without Facebook (etc) :D
— Baylie