Thursday, October 29, 2009

Social Networks: Friend or Foe

I belong to facebook, along with just about everyone I know.  I love certain things about facebook.  Being able to see pictures of my closest friends most recent outings and festivities makes me feel like I can keep up with people who don't live closeby.  Also, I can catch up with old friends and see how they're doing.  Also, on occasion, I can stalk people just to see what they're doing.

But then, recently, there's been a downside to it.  There are plenty of people who I really don't want to catch up with, or people I do not want to see my photos or what I'm doing in my life.  Also, professors are now on facebook.  Even my mom and mother-in-law are on facebook. 

And do you get random friend requests from people?  I do, and then I have to sit and search the person's profile to figure out how the hell they got to me.  Do we have mutual friends? Do I recognize the person in pictures? Do I know the bf/gf/wife/husband/fiance of the person? Has the person changed her name and I'm just not recognizing him/her?  ANNOYING!

And then there are friend requests from blasts from the past who I REALLY do not want to accept.  But am I so mean so as to reject them?  I certainly have realized when a person hasn't accepted my friend request.  And it's amazing how something so stupid can send me into a roll of questioning: what did I do, why don't they want to be friends with me.

And what is up with the friend suggestions?  Hello, doesn't FB realize that most of the people suggested either I have no freaking clue who they are, or I am purposely not friends with?

Well one recent friend suggestion has gotten to me big time.  We have mutual friends.  But I do not care to even allow this person to know I am on facebook.  Luckily in privacy settings, you can block people from even searching your name, which I will do today.  But now, I do not even want to comment on the wall/photo of any of our mutual friends.  Ahh, the joys and pitfalls of social networks - it makes it far too easy for people to find you when the last thing you want is for that person to be able to do so.  Sometimes, I just want to hide everything on there and go on a hiatus from it.

3 comments:

  1. Ha! I share all of those feelings. I'm especially more guarded since I link my blog to my FB page.

    I've gotten some very random friend requests from people who I just share a few mutual friends with but don't know. When did that become an acceptable friend connection?

    And I totally share those thoughts on "suggested friends". Hello, FB? I'm not friending them for a reason (and they probably feel the same about me)!

    However, I do love FB stalking. The downside, however, is that I feel that I've stopped talking to friends because I already know what they're up to thanks to their status updates!

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  2. Isn't it funny to think of the days when facebook was ONLY open to college students?? What would it be like today if that were still the case? I have to admit, it creeps me out when I see folks from the babyboomer generation on FB... it just doesn't seem right.

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  3. Kim and Annie - I totally agree. I remember joining it in college and the network was so much smaller. It was actually kind of nice in a way.

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