The other day a friend and I were discussing what to give up for Lent. There were the usual things that came up like, alchol, coffee, fizzy drinks, chocolate. But what would be even better to give up than all these things put together? The anwser: Facebook.
You're sitting there constantly refreshing the page and some days nothing happens, but the repetitive and tedious status updates, "doing a pub quiz", "having the best night out", if you're having such a good time- why on earth are you logged onto Facebook?
Facebook has affected the way I work, learn and socialise. I'm sure I'm not the only one who when it comes to doing some work, the first thing I do is log onto Facebook. I'm don't do this purposefully, it just happens in my subconcious mind. When in actual fact I get more done when I just sign out and focus on the piece of work I'm meant to be doing. Facebook is a distraction, this is one reason why it wouldn't be a crazy idea to see how long I could/ if I could give it up, even if just for a week!
However I thought I would never say this but Facebook has become a huge part of my social life since I've started at university. Facebook enables me to keep in touch with my brother who goes to university in Southampton. Through using Facebook I am also able to keep in touch with my friends from college who haven't yet gone to university. Another aspect of Facebook that helps me socialise is how anyone can create events and groups. For example as I'm apart of DMU pirate society there is a group which allows us all to talk to the members we have met at socials. Facebook's event pages also allow my socialise because pirate society can set up events and invite me and let me know when the next social is happening. Also the club pages that I "like" for example mosh nightclub can also alert me of nights when they have a free guestlist on the door. In Nancy White (2009) blog on "How I use Social Media" states that "we can find, develop and utilize relationships online". Looking at Facebook and how it helps me effects me socially I would have to agree with this statement. Facebook also helps me learn for example I have an italian friend who came to live with us for a week last summer as part of a cultural exchange week with my orchestra. I was able to add him on Facebook and learn more about his family and culture. Although saying this Facebook can also distract me from learning and doing work as well which becomes annoying.
Overall I have decided not to give up Facebook for Lent because I rely on it too much socially to keep in touch with other people and arrange to go out in the week via Facebook. However at some point I would like to challenge myself and see how long I can go without logging in to that silly stream of pointless statuses and endless stream of pages to "like".
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