Facebook: Too much?

When my group and I were thinking of possible topics for our multimedia project, we stumbled across this idea, and although we ultimately went with something else, I still think this is a funny and somewhat legitimate topic. If you think about, how often on a daily basis do you somehow encounter Facebook? Whether it’s just through conversation, or actually signing on and doing a little “Facebook stalking”? I know for me personally, it’s at least twice a day. I use Facebook as a way to stay up to date with what others are doing, keep in touch with friends and family and even use it as a distraction tool and frequently take breaks from studying to sign on. I know I am not alone in saying this either. If you take a look around the library at any point it time, you can always see other people on Facebook instead of studying. I personally believe Facebook is taking over the world. Yes, that may sound a bit drastic, but I really believe it to be true.
Think back ten years ago. Would the terms, “friend me” or “Facebook me” have meant anything to you? No. But in just a few short years, those phrases have become practically international. Even my parents, who are in there fifties, know what those statements mean. So not only has the actual social network of Facebook spread like wildfire, but also the lingo associated with it.
Facebook has now taken “stalking” to a whole new level. As long as your Facebook friends with someone, you can see their wall posts, status updates, personal information and pictures. With all of this access to someone’s Facebook, one can feel as if they actually know this person on a more personal level, even if you aren’t friends with them in real life. And everyone is guilty of Facebook “stalking”. There are always a few Facebook friends who always post really funny status’, or go on the most amazing vacations and take gorgeous pictures, and you’re always inclined to go check it out. And although people may not like to admit it, I guarantee everyone does it. It’s just human nature and curiosity.
Addiction is also a concern when it comes to Facebook. You can be studying for a test and want a break, so you log on expecting to spend ten minutes online, but then your newsfeed has so many interesting stories, and before you know it two hours have passed and you’re still logged on. It’s very easy to get carried away on Facebook and completely lose track of time.
Yes, Facebook is a good way of keeping in touch with friends, especially once you go off to college or enter the workforce. And now that Facebook has a chat function, keeping in touch is even easier and quicker. However, I think this is changing the way people get to know each other, and not for the better. In just a few short minutes of looking at pictures, you can figure out what types of vacations a person has been on and things of that nature; things that you could have figured out about a person through conversation, not Facebook, ten years ago. So, is Facebook going to change the way current and future generations get to know each other and base relationships off of?