Our virtual network.

Facebook is a social network where family and friends communicate freely and share photos and status updates; private messages and live chatting with one another. It is about networking and keeping each other within the loop. ‘If you aren’t active on social networks, you are in danger of being out of the loop’ (Schawbel, 2009 cited in Wilkinson, 2013).

Most Facebook users, become part of a broader network where something as simple as a common interest can tie people together and in short, we are all interconnected in some way through social media.

People often create several Facebook accounts using different names and identities. These types of people have in my view ulterior motives. The use of fictitious accounts has been increasing; this is mirrored by the increase in scamming posts, like whoring, and trolling. Social media is also used as a tool for stalking people, perhaps to check on ex-partners.

These people abuse the network and use it to their own advantage. Every now and again, I get friends request from people who have no profile photo and their identity information is vague. Sometimes they may use a picture of another person or of an animal; personally I ignored and deleted the request. I do not want these types of people within my network of friends.

Often, people who are new to social networking such as Facebook give out all their personal details without understanding how the networks work. In my case, I privatise my page so no one can view my profile unless they are within my immediate friends list.

Another annoying practice that I come across on numerous occasions is that people revel in their own self-important and think that others are interested in their dirty laundry. Yes, I understand it is their right to say what they want to say, after all one of the pillars of western society is free speech, they feel that because it is their page, they can do or say whatever they want. It is their space and place to do so (Tuan, 1997, p. 3-7).

References

http://theyoungandthedigital.com/2010/11/18/got-facebook-a-new-study-examines-the-worlds-biggest-social-network/

Schawbel, D. (2009). cited in Wilkinson, (2013).

Tuan, Y. (1997). Introduction, in space and place: The perspective of experience (pp. 3-7). London, England: Edward Arnold.