Following on hot on the heels of last week’s Blog regarding friends I wanted to pose the question “to FB or not to FB”.
Recently a friend shared a FB post about social media titled “less technology, more hugs”. I clicked on the link to find a guy rapping about how social media is affecting everyone and how we would rather stare at our phones than talk, or skype rather than get together. He went on to say that we are so consumed by our phones and social network that we forget how to live.
Maybe you also saw it, I briefly shared it on my FB page with a comment that I was no longer going to post. This resolution didn’t even last an hour. Why? If I’m honest I don’t entirely agree. The video was thought provoking, after all I was still thinking about it a few hours later, but I actually do like using FB. It has made it possible for me to reconnect with old friends, which with our busy lives might have been difficult to do. More importantly, I am able to keep in touch with all my overseas friends and family. We are closer as a result. It means that when we do meet up, we don’t have to spend ages catching up on each other’s news but can immediately engage in conversation as we know what has been happening in each other’s lives.
I want to see pictures of friend’s children and the progress they are making, their first day at primary or secondary school and all their achievements. I enjoy seeing the happiness on my grandmother’s face when I show her photos, posted by my cousin who is based in the Philippines of her great great grandchildren. It is an absolute joy to watch.
It’s a great way to share with friends, although I do draw the line at pictures of food or pointless comments, but if something amazing is happening that I want to share what better way to reach out to all of my friends. It means you’re not just sharing with your best friends but all of your friends, building even closer relationships.
Recently an old work colleague of mine got married, before Facebook I wouldn’t have seen the wedding photos, in fact I wasn’t even in touch with her until recently, but she was able to share her special day with her old acquaintances and faraway friends. So whilst we weren’t there in person we shared in her happiness. I think this is amazing.
Another advantage is it can be a powerful tool for informing people of worthwhile causes or events. It is a great way of spreading the word. For example, Stephen Sutton, who on finding out his disease was incurable, made a FB page called “Stephen’s Story”, sadly he died in May 2014, but he raised awareness and money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and at the time of writing the fund has reached £4,394,996 and this is still rising.
For me, FB will never be a substitute for meeting or catching up in person but it’s a great way to bridge the gap especially allowing us to keep in touch with far flung friends. I have also been reunited with people that I had lost touch with, by circumstances not by choice.
I would love to hear from you as to what you use FB for or whether you have been reunited with any long lost family or friends.
Wishing all my readers and wonderful week of love and happiness.
lovehappinessandangels 
As if you had entered into my train of thought this week!! Am rather concerned now that friends prefer to message me on Facebook or text rather than pick up the phone for a good old chat!!? Think it’s really sad and will leave us as lonely individuals living our lives through a screen…..and our mouths and voices will be redundant….!! To sum up…..fb is great for friends at a distance, but no substitute for more local contact and interaction with those close by!!
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That’s the key isn’t it Sue, we must still make the time to see our friends, I would much rather see them and catch up in person than through a screen. See you soon x
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I agree Facebook has it’s place – and like you Tracey, I have been able to re-acquaint myself with old school friends who I had completely lost touch with. After buying my horse, I found people and groups on Facebook who also owned horses of the same breed – so that was lovely. But for me, the important thing happened later – I met my old school friends and I met these new ‘horse friends’ face to face! I do worry about the term “friend” and how this will be defined in the future. It seems that now, a ‘friend’ is someone/anyone you know or have contact with…… for me, a friend is everything you described in last weeks blog.
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Thanks Claire and you are absolutely right and as you say, for me a true friend will always be what I wrote about in last week’s Blog.
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Hmm, interesting question. I think FB is useful to catch up with friends you hardly see – I enjoy hearing what they’re up to, and also just reading nutty little lighthearted comments and posts from people I see all the time. It’s absolutely great for spreading the word for charities and petitions that you feel are worthy of exposure. Sometimes it gets a bit irksome: there may be posts that are irritating, but you can easily customise the info you receive. Also you can use it as much or little as you like. I saw “less technology, more hugs” and I do agree, but I reckon just utilize all this amazing available info & technology as a beneficial tool rather than turning it into an obsession. I worry more about the children really, but I’m sure my parents had a comparable concern when my sister and I were growing up (I wanted to marry Noddy Holder, for instance…) – you need to go with the flow but keep your feet on the ground. Taa daa!!
X
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Yes Lois we are very lucky, it’s fantastic how we are all able to keep in touch and as you say make light hearted comments. All good fun. Noddy Holder? Mine was David Cassidy.
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