Social Networking

Daniel Miller brings up very substantial facts about Facebook and the way that it acts as a social network. As I was reading through the article, I tended to agree with all of the things that he had to say. When I was younger I use to go on AOL, but now I go on Facebook to interact on the internet. It was stated that Facebook helps facilitate the way people interact. Facebook has brought many people together. Miller states, “Most people feel awkward in the company of people they barely know, self-conscious about the possible effect of their words and actions. Facebook provides an attractive buffer in this regard”. After reading this part of the article, I realized that this portrays to me. For example, I have friends from high school that I lost contact with, but they are my Facebook friends. I would never call those people up to catch up with them due to the fact that we are not that close, but I find myself looking at their Facebook profiles from time to time to get updated how they are doing. By being their friend on Facebook, I have the ability to “keep in touch” with them without making the awkward phone call with a person that we discussed in class recently.

Facebook helps bring people together by networking. Today, job opportunities are not as high as they have been in the past. A great way that people are getting jobs is by networking on Facebook. Facebook helps bring people together by having the opportunity to easily contact a person. It is easy enough to friend a person that you just met once, and this could help bring you in opportunities for future employment by keeping in contact with all of these people.

However, I believe that Facebook could harm a person’s social life. Facebook has become this site where people use every day. People are looking at individual’s pages on a daily basis. If you post something that another individual does not like, this could cause controversy. Also, “word on the street” gets out very fast on Facebook. It is hard to hide stuff. For example, people in relationships usually put In a Relationship on their page. It is very easy for your companion to find out that you are not being trustworthy. Facebook makes things be out in the open.

I believe that Facebook is a great social networking site. Miller is very honest and truthful about how Facebook creates interaction between people. The next question should be what is next after this type of social network? Will people lose all face to face interaction at some point?