JourneywomanFacebook is lame!
October 29th 2008 03:07
Remember a few years ago, when we were all googling our names to see who would be on the web the most? Then with the advent of myspace and Facebook, almost everyone was online. Now, it seems that the pendulum has swung - online networking is plateauing in popularity and all of a sudden, the trend is to be untraceable. Not having a myspace or a Facebook page shows that you don't spend too much time online, and it allows you to keep your privacy and your air of mystery. Whereas if you're using one of these sites (or worse - both of them!) on a daily basis, you'll look like a loser with nothing better to do than lurk in the background of other people's lives.
Personally, I deleted my myspace account over a year ago, when the spam became nothing short of irritating. I'm still on Facebook but it has recently become less pleasant to use also, with the advent of 'The new Facebook.' Hundreds of thousands of users joined groups to protest the new layout, but to no avail. Suddenly, your status updates are the most important part of your page, and when combined they give away too much about you. Photos are no longer listed as 'added by you' or 'added by others'. Also, remember how with the passing of time, all that was left on your page was old wall posts? Not anymore - now everything from your status updates to your relationship changes can be seen for months and months. Possibly even since you joined, but I haven't looked back that far...
There's a lot to be said for privacy, and it's something that you don't really miss until you've had it taken away. If you use online networking sites, people who barely know you can follow the minutiae of your existence, and for me that's not a good feeling. If you have more than 100 'friends', then odds are on that one of them is stalking you in a not-so-nice way - checking out your racier pictures and so on.
It is perhaps for this reason that the popularity of myspace and Facebook is levelling out - people just don't want to be a part of it anymore. So don't feel bad about deleting your account, because in doing so you'll be taking back an important part of yourself, and you'll have more time to do something productive.
Being untraceable. Sounds great, doesn't it?
Personally, I deleted my myspace account over a year ago, when the spam became nothing short of irritating. I'm still on Facebook but it has recently become less pleasant to use also, with the advent of 'The new Facebook.' Hundreds of thousands of users joined groups to protest the new layout, but to no avail. Suddenly, your status updates are the most important part of your page, and when combined they give away too much about you. Photos are no longer listed as 'added by you' or 'added by others'. Also, remember how with the passing of time, all that was left on your page was old wall posts? Not anymore - now everything from your status updates to your relationship changes can be seen for months and months. Possibly even since you joined, but I haven't looked back that far...
Who's watching you?
There's a lot to be said for privacy, and it's something that you don't really miss until you've had it taken away. If you use online networking sites, people who barely know you can follow the minutiae of your existence, and for me that's not a good feeling. If you have more than 100 'friends', then odds are on that one of them is stalking you in a not-so-nice way - checking out your racier pictures and so on.
It is perhaps for this reason that the popularity of myspace and Facebook is levelling out - people just don't want to be a part of it anymore. So don't feel bad about deleting your account, because in doing so you'll be taking back an important part of yourself, and you'll have more time to do something productive.
Being untraceable. Sounds great, doesn't it?
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Comment by KC Hill
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Though I agree. They can be very intrusive. If I have concerns about any "friends" I don't know, I just delete them.
I also use the sites as links to my blogs.
Comment by Janet Collins
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Janet
Comment by moonglow
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Great article!
Comment by Chris Champion
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The big question is: what's next?
Comment by Jane Green
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Comment by Amanda 3
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Kind of sad, really. I'm glad my housemate keeps me updated. Nowadays I only use facebook for the poker app, and even that is pretty lame.
Comment by Bryn
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Facebook I have a love/hate relationship with. I can't stand receiving the continuous join this, fill out this, vote on this bullshit. I just ignore, ignore, ignore ... then feel paranoid that my friends might think I'm being a snob. Stupid, I know.