Social media outlets have giving a new definition
on the term ‘friendship.’ The infamous subliminal rant is an example
of how Facebook has altered the landscape of friendships. No longer is it commonplace for a person to
call their friend on the telephone to berate them over a disappointing encounter,
such is publically dispersed, without any harsh feelings on the doers part. The
dawn of social media lends another outlet- Why not inform all 1,344 of your “friends”
about the concerns you have with just 1 friend? Special moments, intimate feelings,
and personal battles usually reserved for close relationships are shared with mere
acquaintances, professional associates, and family through the media outlet
known as Facebook. The latter represents the current norm in society and quite
fine by the users of social media.
Social media has become beneficial; wherein, it
has connected previously adopted children with biological families and long
lost friends. The latter notion reflects the theories referring back to the
baby boomers described by Deresiewicz who valued the face to face encounter or
the intimacy of a hand written letter. I have accepted and embraced the new age
friendships that social media lends. Facebook is a valuable tool and hence
viewed as a tool that permits a platform that helps to build relationships as
opposed to weakening them.
-Chandra
Social networking does not kill friendships, really? I
beg to differ. Friendships have become shaky ever since Facebook and other
social media sites have been introduced. Let us however turn our focus
specifically on Facebook. It is indeed a commercial and media franchise, which
can either brake or make friendships. Friendships, from my assumptions, have
become commercialized, sometimes fake, abused and misused, detrimental, and
sometimes self-inflicted pain through this specific site called Facebook.
What ever happened to the sincerity, value and realness
in a friendship? Some people, we can surmise, have become so drawn in to the notion
that if someone inquires to follow them, they are lead to think that these
people are automatically their friend; please take in consideration, on the
other party’s end, that the person has no idea who you really are, what’s your
favorite food, color and the list of characteristics referring to one’s self
can go on. Facebook, has become a numbers game; basically implying the notion
that I have one million friends following me, but who cares if they really know
me—which leads to insecurity and even death, for someone who may not have
accumulated so many friends on their Facebook page and might feel inferior to
others, and ultimately not so popular.
What ever happened to privacy? Yes, what ever happened to
security of secrets? People have no discretion on social media sites; wherein,
everything they are doing in their life, has to be announced on Facebook.
Sometimes, it is beyond the norm and not even called for. True friendships
revolve around honesty, trust, sympathy, face to face interaction and most of
all built up over time. It is not just one click of a button and ‘boom’ then
you are automatically declared someone’s friend, not at all! Friendship also
reflects consistency and love in the good and bad times. Facebook, I can attest
to the fact, that it has been the cause of broken relationships, that can never
be mended, and the departure of trust and loyalty in marriages which have
sometimes led to divorce. The latter reflects social media abuse and rectifies
that some people have no self-control as for complying with social media terms.
I have seen and heard of people who have gone on a rampage blurting out other
so called friends businesses, and even their own; which leads to small and even
brutal quarrels. Really! Are these conditions called for?
Ancient ideal values that reflected friendship was
clearly one emphasizing on spiritual quality. On another note, the modern
conceptions of friendship are slightly different, for it reflects, solidarity,
fidelity, and trust for the characteristics of a friendship. But in a
commercialized industry and world, who really cares what a friendship consists
of anymore, per se—it seems as though friendships, as of now, reflects the
notion, what can I get out it and out of the person and then on to the next
victim.
The idea of friendship has clearly evolved through time,
as the American literary critic William Deresiewicz has outlined in his text
called “Faux Friendship.” Deresiewicz believed that friendship represented the
highest calling in life. It is here, friends would declare their love for each
other without having to even share the same residence. Honor was prolific in a
friendship and the demand of such required duty and consistent devotion; but
friendships on Facebook, one may perceive as just being identified as a number,
inclusive with the other millions of followers.
“Friendship is devolving, in other words, from a relationship to a
feeling—from something people share to something we all hug privately to
ourselves in the loneliness of our electronic caves,” according to Deresiewicz
(152). We are at risk that our new electronic addiction degrades friendship
even more, by far. Signing up for social networking can denote the fact that we
value a friendship only in terms of connection, which is sad to state.
I am not trying to come off as an old rant complaining
about technological change. Yes, we can all agree that social media has its
good side as for communicating in the long run, but there are also evidential
flaws interfering with friendships and everyday relationships. I understand the
many benefits of technological accommodations; whereby such has provided means
of allowing friends to stay in touch, for example. If I am stating the rugged
side of the new technology’s and its impact, it is due to the social upheaval
that takes place at times, therefore, I am insinuating and looking for a change
in social media. Hopefully, we are not heading in the direction that leads to
the despair for the future of human interaction—let us hope this is not true.
-Kimberly G
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