My name is Dave, I'm a recovering Facebook junkie and have never been happier.
Conversations aren't the same as they used to be. Did you see what I posted on your wall? Do you have Skype? Can you believe what [insert worthless celebrity name] tweeted earlier?
Over the past decade, social networking sites like Facebook, Skype, MySpace and Twitter have made it easier to maintain connections with people. But I'm concerned with how well these sites actually help people communicate.
I gave in to peer pressure a few years ago and created a Facebook account. The site then took on a life of its own.
It became the first and last web page I visited when I went online. My emotions hung in the balance over whether a little red notification was someone posting on my wall or if that kid from 11th grade homeroom sent me a Mafia Wars invite.
After two years of accepting friend requests and thinking up clever status updates, I came to a realization: I don't need this.
So I deleted my account several months ago and haven't looked back. The people I need to get a hold of are still just a phone call away and I still find things to do on the weekend. It turns out people do, in fact, exist even if they don't have a Facebook account.
When I think of Facebook now, I'm reminded of a classic Chappelle's Show skit. Chappelle had a funny portion of his show called "When keeping it real goes wrong."
For Facebook, this could be called ‘"When keeping in touch goes wrong." People have genuine intentions trying to stay connected by creating a Facebook account, but what they don't realize is the fact that it's the least personal and efficient form of communication.
Consider a basic "wall-to-wall" communication. Someone may reach out to a friend but not hear back for a few days, or even at all. Now the one friend is upset that they've been ignored but little do they know that their friend has been out of town for the past week.
The impersonal technology-dependent conversation has now caused tension or at least requires an explanation of why he didn't respond. A textbook example of "when keeping in touch goes wrong."
I saw one of my friends from UB recently and he almost seemed upset that he wasn't able to post a video on my Facebook wall. I told him to give me a call or text anytime to stay in touch, but I doubt that's going to happen because it's not as convenient. People like to be acknowledged as friends online but prefer not to be held to any strict obligations whatsoever.
That's the problem with the "friending" system of Facebook. People can be listed as friends digitally and publically but aren't held to the standards of an actual friendship in a real life situation.
For many people with Facebook, deleting your account may seem like cutting ties with society. It's just the opposite. You are able to step outside the electronically constructed box of friends and really start to have engaging personal conversations.
