The online social network has come to redefine our daily lives. Prior to the online social network we met in public places and discussed issues, shared gossip, voiced fears and exchanged insults and barbs. Facebook and other networks changed this social dynamic and means of interaction in so many profound ways. On the surface it appeared to be a piece of online real estate where someone could chart for the world the details of their existence on the planet. Family albums, peaks and valleys of fortune,likes and dislikes, desires and fears.The looking glass into the human zoo/aquarium.
However there are more profound revelations. Take intimate relationships. Facebook as become the new medium of manipulation in a relationship.The single/in a relationship/its complicated status has come to be seen as a either a badge of honor or shame. Cultural differences are shown up. For example many Jamaican women will say they are in a relationship so as not to appear the odd one out. Women will check out the ex girlfriends of a man whether married or not. Men will display hyper competitive behaviour over female attention. Of course facebook has the potential for marketing and dating and for liaisons. It also has immense potential for conflict and the humiliation or attempted humiliation of people through various means. Pictures and the reactions to the pictures are examples of this. So the "social network" has become the psychic mirror of humanity. Knowing what's important to someone at a mouseclick gives marketing companies a paradise
for analysing tastes. Ipad worship for example.
Attention seeking behaviour has found a new outlet. From odd pictures to semi nude pictures, to sexual networks and other networks-facebook has a plethora of avenues for like minded people. This has implications for the quality of our time. As much as we treasure material possessions, exchanging thoughts and sharing ideas and communicating on the network has become the new priority. Take the Arab revolutions. In repressed societies this became the ideal tool for organising revolt. No longer are the rabble rousers out on the streets. They are covertly online using coded language for revolt or some other organised activity.
Our spectrum of emotional reactions are so clear on facebook and it is now the ideal tool for venting
rage and anger. Its also the tracking device for hyper competitive individuals. The alpha males paradise.
Such is the power and potential of facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment