Well, I do... thanks to Statcounter. *waves at mental stalker person*
I'm all for self-promotion on social networking sites; it's shown to be a great key for businesses to reach out to customers and allow them to advertise their products to a wider range of people all over the globe. If I owned my own business I'd sure as hell be using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. The statistics speak for themselves.
But, unfortunately, there are many different ways of using these sites. Some people become addicted to them and end up sharing major news or dramas online; pregnancy revelations/scans, arguments, intimate details of relationships and all-round backbiting. So, the purpose of this post is to ask ourselves a question―how much sharing is too much sharing?
Some prime examples:
A couple announcing their pregnancy live on Facebook.
An argument about the Bible.
Indirect anger broadcast to friends and family.
That's the kind of behaviour that is being broadcast online every day. I realise I've only used examples from Facebook, but it's where I see it most. It's odd and uncomfortable to read, but people respond constantly, and this often sparks online rampages that can last days, even weeks.
I've seen some unbelievable things during my time on Facebook―even the divorce of couples. Family, friends and friends' families. You're friends with both parties but, with the help of Facebook, you can watch things unfolding and unraveling as time goes by. Divorce proceedings, custody battles and even affairs. I've seen workmates posting things to each other publicly (how hard is it to hit the private message button?), only to have it spread throughout their place of employment the next day.
It's constantly mentioned on The Jeremy Kyle Show and in relationship statistics as a major cause or contribution to infidelity. Basically, it's becoming easier and easier to cheat on someone because your secrets are hidden behind passwords and private mails―just because you're not interacting with the 'other person' in real-life doesn't mean it's not wrong.
Have you been shocked to see something on a social networking site? Did you ever read a post and think 'that's no one else's business, what are they doing'? Share some of your experiences with social networking...
I've seen some unbelievable things during my time on Facebook―even the divorce of couples. Family, friends and friends' families. You're friends with both parties but, with the help of Facebook, you can watch things unfolding and unraveling as time goes by. Divorce proceedings, custody battles and even affairs. I've seen workmates posting things to each other publicly (how hard is it to hit the private message button?), only to have it spread throughout their place of employment the next day.
It's constantly mentioned on The Jeremy Kyle Show and in relationship statistics as a major cause or contribution to infidelity. Basically, it's becoming easier and easier to cheat on someone because your secrets are hidden behind passwords and private mails―just because you're not interacting with the 'other person' in real-life doesn't mean it's not wrong.
Have you been shocked to see something on a social networking site? Did you ever read a post and think 'that's no one else's business, what are they doing'? Share some of your experiences with social networking...
This isn't shocking or anything, but one of my old flatmates was in New York this week and her boyfriend proposed. She has since told us (understandable she didn't straight away given - hello? she's in NYC!) but we didn't hear it from her. We heard it from her sister, who went straight onto Facebook and announced it - then said something along the lines of "oh, don't tell anyone, all the family don't know yet." Yeah . . . cos they're not on Facebook reading your post, sister! I know the sister was just excited, and that was quite sweet, but it seems like it was my FRIEND'S place to tell all on Facebook first, not hers!
ReplyDeleteWhenever I see news stories or photographs of people walking down the aisle to get married and they're on their mobile posting updates about it... wtf?! If I was their spouse-to-be I'd have hightailed it out of the church and straight to a bar. Fsake. Social networking is great on the one hand, but it's just made everyone so narcissistic and self-important. And I'm saying that as someone who's very aware no one generally gives a shit what I'm currently pissed off at lol x
ReplyDeleteI share the same rant. It's bad taste to post about all aspects of your life, arguments especially. Any argument will escalate more if the other person thinks they're being slagged-off online.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :)
TGP x
Actually, I'm guilty of doing such a thing, I broadcast that I was going to the police about my abusive ex boyfriend and all the details that accompanied that decision. I did it for a couple of reasons, the first of which he was a terrible liar, but it was unbeknownst to all but me so I wanted my side of the story out first, and secondly because I was such an emotional wreck that I needed the support big time. The last big reason was I kinda hoped it would explain some of my behaviour. I try really hard to only have good friends on Facebook, not acquaintances I met once, which may also have contributed. I was, and still am, very glad that I did it because not only did I not have to go through the trauma of telling everyone over and over again, but people were amazing generous of their time and really reached out to me when I needed it most. Maybe some people were annoyed that I would clog their news feed with details of my life they didn't care about; I was quite happy for those people to unfriend me because they're the last people I needed to be surrounded by.
ReplyDelete