Is Facebook Bad for Friendships? Yes it Is!

I entered the world of online social networks somewhat begrudgingly in 2005, when a friend of mine told me about MySpace and Facebook. At the time, Facebook was only available to those with .edu e-mail addresses. Since I was in graduate school, I was eligible. Few of my friends from high school and my undergraduate years were signed up, as they had the good sense to get jobs rather than pursue more letters in their titles.

After signing up, I rarely logged into my Facebook account. A few years later, the website changed its policy, and opened its doors to anyone with Internet access. Soon, I was being bombarded with friend requests from people from my past, and I accepted most all of the invitations. I began logging into my Facebook account more frequently.

I was amazed at what people were posting, and the frequency at which they were doing so. Which brings me to the central question: Is Facebook bad for friendships? I say it is. The following are the reasons why.

First, there is the ego factor. Some people must have low self-esteem, and feel the need to post everything they buy, every trip on which they go and all of the activities in which they participate. Facebook has become a virtual pissing contest for many people, which is a major turn off for me, and I dare say many people.

My second supporting argument is the too much information factor. I could give a rat's ass what you are having for dinner, how your cookie baking is going and that you're work day is dragging! Did you really just post that you are finally fed up with your spouse who is in prison? Seriously? On Facebook?

The third complaint I have is all of the stupid applications. Stop sending me virtual farm animals, mafia trinkets, etc. etc.! I do not participate in these games, and wish Facebook would do away with them, or at least the publicaction of every event that occurs in them.

The final point supporting my case is politics. This was my Achilles' heel. I have friends of all political stripes, and some of them post links to articles and rants supporting said views. I got into multiple arguments over them, and even began posting opposing articles and rants. I know that I turned off, and even angered some people, just as I had been turned off and angered. I have ceased my posting, but still fall into the traps set by others and occasionally make comments.

Because of these four reasons, I think Facebook is bad for friendships. Further, I think Facebook keeps us too connected. Some friendships are meant to die or remain in the past. All of the baggage from our personal histories is kept alive through these virtual worlds. In a sense, Facebook puts a ball and chain on its users by not letting us escape people from our past and present, even if we have to see them in a non-virtual setting on a semi-regular basis. The online baggage carries over to the real world, and can harm relationships that previously had no virtual component.