The Impact of Facebook

The community I decided to write my second paper on was facebook. As we all know, Facebook was a social networking website established by Harvard grad Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, and has since exploded into a community with 82 million users worldwide. I believe Facebook is just an example of our evolving world, where people’s lives are drawn closer together. Facebook has also created distinct connections between people that would not have been possible if the website did not exist. As a result, Facebook as a community has altered the way in which we communicate. Many of our friends use this website to communicate with friends and acquaintances almost instantaneously, eliminating the need to email. Facebook even recently added a chat option where friends could see who is online and instant message the person. Communication, however, is not limited to just physically talking. Pictures on Facebook profiles communicate who we are, what interests we have, and whom we hang out with to other people. The section on the profile where the interests of the person are specified also serves as a tool of communication. Facebook has now created an environment where people can portray false version of themselves. Facebook also fosters false, shallow friendships. In a short span of time, only 4 years, this community has influenced the way in which a whole generation communicates and forms friendships. My paper will focus mainly on our generation, (adolescents and young adults) and facebook’s effect on the way we communicate and the friendships we form.