Facebook Vortex
Until now, facebook has just not sucked me in. I play Scrabulous a few times a week, but that’s about it. I only have 30+ friends, and never actively seek people. This morning, I logged into my account to check on Scrabulous and was excited to find a button to ignore all requests. (insert evil laugh here) Once I had ignored the requests, the column on the right moved up and I noticed something I’d not previously seen. There was a box offering “People You May Know,” and I did! I fell for it and clicked, and there was my network displayed before me.
There’s nothing exceptional about the programming that allows facebook to scour my friends and harvest common connections, but the urge to click and add these friends was almost overpowering. The images displayed were people I already connect with almost daily through other networks. The desire to add them in facebook made me think more about the psychology behind social networking. What makes me feel the need to add these contacts, even though I know how to find them elsewhere? If I don’t add them, what will happen? Will I miss out on opportunity? If I don’t add them, is it a snub? What compels us to join multiple networks to connect with the same people?
I know that before I even signed up for facebook, I had a strong curiosity when I saw my Twitter friends commenting about Scrabulous. In 140 characters, the game seemed so mysterious. I signed up on the main Scrabulous site, not realizing the game was being played in facebook. Eventually, I grew brave enough to post that I wanted to play too! The Twitter network opened their arms and let me in on the Scrabulous secret, facebook. I experimented with a few other facebook applications, but most were intrusive and annoying. I still feel creepy seeing the actions of my friends. I really don’t want to know everything they are doing on fb. So I’ve not been sucked in yet, but I’m on the edge. Should I add the new friends? If I do, what is in store?
May 25th, 2008 at 7:49 am
I, just this week, after ignoring the curiosity long enough, dipped my toes into the waters of Facebook. Not being one given to paranoia, I was somewhat reticent after viewing http://www.albumoftheday.com/facebook/ . I had just started back to college and I, Instead, tried f2f to drum up support for stu.dicio.us in my classes to no avail.
My comment is more of a thanks for voicing your apprehension. If I have the same concerns as you do about jumping into networks, I am in good company indeed.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I still am not attracted by Facebook, at least far from consumed with it. I check in once in a while and that’s about it. Some of the quizzes and games are cool. I am linked with a few friends from the past. With the latter, if I do not regularly see them in person, why would I want to constantly stay connected through Facebook?
Granted there are many people in my educational network I only see online. Maybe being online now gives us the capability to keep the old friendships more active?
May 25th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I have not tried Facebook yet even though I’ve heard all the chatter about it. But it is posts like yours that is tempting me to try it. I will hold out for awhile longer but I see Facebook in my future because of the curiosity factor.