Facebook, Bebo, Twitter, MySpace. Just a few of the social network tools that attract millions of Internet users on-line every day to share their feelings, photos and funny videos. Whether you log in once a month or once a minute, it seems like few can escape the Facebook trap. So why do we do it?
Valued at approximately $15 billion dollars and with an estimated 50 million users worldwide, Facebook is the undisputed king of social networking websites. Brainchild of a Harvard University student, it's creation 5 years ago heralded a new era in this technological age and it has never looked back. It's popularity perhaps stems from it's simplicity. It's idiot-friendly layout allows even your Granny to set-up a profile, meaning that virtually anyone with Internet access can easily keep in touch with friends from all across the globe. And it offers much more than just a spam-free e-mail service. You can also make your friends insanely jealous with your new holiday photos or terrify your Mum with your latest home-made snowboarding video. Keeping in touch and sharing information has never been easier.
It's not all good news though. There are always haters, not least our faithful employers. It has been estimated that over 200 million work hours are lost each and every month in the UK due to staff becoming distracted by social networking sites. While some organisations have embraced the opportunity by offering timed access to these sites as an incentive to work harder, many companies have chosen to ban them all together. Employers may also be using these sites to perform unofficial background checks on unsuspecting job applicants. Your 400 strong friend list may say volumes about your character, but so does that photograph of you passed out in a puddle of your own vomit.
So back to the original question: Why do we do it? In this writer's opinion it's because it's the easy option and (almost) everyone is doing it. Having a party? Organising a road trip? Create an event on Facebook. Trying to find some mates from primary school? Forgot to get that girl's number, but you can just about remember her name? Look them up on Facebook. Got some friends in Kazakhstan who you met backpacking last summer? Send them a message on Facebook. Want to share your travel photos with your friends and family quickly, easily and for free? Whack them up on Facebook!
Society is evolving and the way in which we socialise is evolving with it. I personally don't view networking websites as a substitute for a decent face-to-face conversation, but I do believe they provide a fantastic way to share a large amount of information with a large amount of people in a small amount of time. Love it or hate it, Facebook, or it's resulting offspring and hybrids, is here to stay.
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