Social networking: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Do you find it strange if someone you know or meet does not have a Facebook or other social network account?

Do you wonder if they are hiding something? Do they seem “suspicious” to you?

What is your social network account, or lack thereof, saying about you?

I read an article today entitled, “People Who Don’t Join Facebook are Suspicious, say Pundits.” It was published by the Toronto Star on Aug. 8, 2012. Oddly enough, I received the link to the article via my Facebook newsfeed. The article suggested that those with no or minimal social network presence have the potential for anti-social, even criminal, behaviour.

This article stemmed from a story in a German news magazine in which a psychologist concluded that killers, Norwegian Anders Breivik and Colorado theatre gunman James Holmes’ slim social media presences were suspicious.

I’m no expert, but I disagree. Our culture has been changing dramatically; people are finding new ways to communicate and share information with one another and social networking sites make sharing fun and easy.

But not everyone wants to participate.

On the Internet, as in real life, there are folks who would rather not share their personal lives en masse. Everyone has their own limit when it comes to what they are comfortable revealing about themselves.

Some are an open book and share almost every thought they have and picture they take. Others post periodically, sharing only life’s most interesting and important things.

I do think it is important to maintain a sense of decorum when sharing online. I believe parents, at the very least, should “friend” their teens on Facebook. Not to spy or intrude, but to stay involved in their activities, to see who their Facebook friends are, and what is being posted; to teach them what is appropriate and what is not and to keep the lines of communication open.

A good idea is to sit down with them and go through their profile together.

Your profile can say a lot about you.

I have cringed at the self portraits taken by scantily clad prepubescent girls in seductive poses in their bathroom mirror or bedroom. I remember playing with my mother’s makeup and dressing up with my sisters when I was a young girl; the difference was, no pictures were taken and shared with the world.

I believe Facebook and other social networking sites do have positive aspects. There are unlimited groups people can join to connect with others and keep up to date regarding the same subject.

Business owners are able to advertise using Facebook to effectively promote and market themselves for free.

I joined Facebook in 2007, to stay in touch with my family in Nova Scotia. My interest had just been sparked in digital photography and I was able to share pictures of Sudbury with them. Over the years, I have added photographers whose work I admire to my friends list. Most musicians have a fan page which people can join to stay up to date.

By belonging to groups such as Northern Life, or CBC News, as well as unlimited news outlets from around the world, you can receive up-to-the-minute information and footage about current events, locally, internationally, or globally. It’s fascinating!

Some groups share information on services available, such as the Walden Animal Hospital group, which shares info on the rehabilitation of wildlife, right here in Sudbury.

Other groups are made for upcoming events. People click “join”, “maybe” or “decline”, thus giving the host/organizer numbers to prepare for and allowing the member to keep track of events they have expressed interest in attending.

There are even, what I like to call “grief-groups,” where people make a group of a deceased person where mourners can come together to share pictures, memories and stories of their dearly departed and help each other grieve and express condolences to the grieving.

Facebook can be tailored to your likes and dislikes quite easily. You can surround yourself with people who share the same interests as you as well as free yourself from those who might not be good for you, all with just the click of a block button.

Don’t you wish life were as simple?

Janet Young is an amateur photographer who likes to share community events with Sudburians.