Threads

With the recent discussion in class of addiction and Facebook, I have noticed what we might question as Facebook addiction. In class a group gave a discussion of things that make someone an addict such as habitual action.

For the past couple weeks or so every time I log into Facebook I have an inbox message. This message is a thread that is sent to whomever and it is conversation only between those certain people. My friends from home started the thread and have been writing messages back and forth every day. Now, when I say everyday I do not mean once a day. It seems that they write back and forth numerous times during the day, almost every hour. I have not yet posted on this thread because I do not check my Facebook as often nor do I have much time with school and work.

This makes me wonder how they are getting their school work accomplished. Are they maybe using this Facebook thread not only to keep in touch but as a procrastination technique? Also if they are logging into Facebook every hour just to see who has responded and to write back is that considered a habitual action? All these questions lead up to the complicated question we have discussed in class, are they addicted to Facebook?

For the simple fact that they log on every hour, I think can be considered a form of addiction. I can not say however, that I know of any of their grades being lower then usual because I have not talked to them much but I am guessing that their time spent on Facebook just being involved in this thread is consuming time that could be used for studying. I do think it is nice to keep in touch with old friends, and a thread is an easy way of bringing everyone into one conversation, but if it is necessary to check and respond every hour that really may be part of an addiction.

This thread has made it easy to see the way in which Facebook may become an addiction. Although my friends may just look at this messaging as fun conversation, their actions could be leading to possible addiction.

I am always finding articles in Cosmo Girl about social networks or forms of CMC that take me right back to subjects we discussed in electronic communications. We talk about the reason for why people have so many friends on Facebook and are these people really who they say they are? Why do people just accept friend requests from anyone even if they are not a friend or a friend of a friend? I just presented an article I read, to the class that suggested maybe people like to see their friend list grow to outrageous proportions and see how many friends they can get. Even if this is true what if there was someone in the list of 200 friends that shouldn't be or that you already accepted their request but no longer want them as a friend?

The article I came across in Cosmo Girl is called "De-Friending Done Right." First there is the total stranger. Either do not accept the friend request or if that's already happened and you want to de-friend him/her just go ahead and do so and hope they don't sent a message. In the even that they do just Cosmo Girl says you can send them a message back explaining its nothing personal but I think that it is unlikely for people to do that. Also there are ways to protect your information. If you have a friend who is not really a well known friend, change the privacy settings. This is a way to limit what that friend can view. I think this is also good because I know of situations where people have not been hired for jobs because of things they had on their page. If you limit what others can view then it should not become a problem if you happen to friend a potential employer.

Also the article just gives specific ways to handle situations through messaging. Just telling a person in a nice, rational way why they can not be their friend or why they keep that friendship at a certain level. I agree with not friending just anyone however I know that I tend to. In class we are trying to figure out many of reasons why people use the social networks in they way they do. I do think for some people just seeing how many friends they can have is something that keeps them going back for more. Having an extraordinary amount of people on a friend list may make people feel popular, however how many of those people are actually their true friends and someone they want to talk to. I just suggest, after all the things we have discussed in class about negative CMC, and people pretending to be someone they are not, if someone wants to friend just anyone then they should select their privacy settings carefully.

Death by Texting

In the November issue of Cosmo Girl there was an page called "Death by Texting." As I was reading the points on the page it reminded me of our first week in electronic communications when we had to give up all uses of CMC. Texting was by far the hardest. It has become the most convenient and efficient way to let someone know something. I know I text constantly even in times when I should not for example when I am driving. That is a bad thing to admit to however I am sure many are guilty of this.

The page in Cosmo Girl said that the American College of Emergency Physicians are seeing a rise in injuries and deaths from texting while walking, biking, skating, and driving. There was also a short story on the page of an accident that happened. In July 2007, a 17-year old girl driving in New York state crashed her SUV into truck, killing herself and four friends. Records showed that her cell phone sent a text message minutes before the accident. This shows the terrible consequences of trying to multitask while texting.

Does this show signs of addiction? How is this problem managed? Handing the phone over to a friend to text and have them read responses will reduce risk. You could let the person or people you have been texting know that you are going to be driving and you will text them when you have arrived. Also if it is necessary for you to answer a text, pull over so you are not endangering yourself or others.

Some states have what is called DWT. Driving while texting is illegal in some states. I wonder if people agree with this or not. Even though I am a culprit of DWT, I do think this is a good law and should be illegal in all states. It's scary to think of the consequences that can come from doing something that most people feel is so natural in their everyday life.