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Facebook is the demise of our society: A thesis by Michael Vu  As I sit in the library, frantically trying to figure out what to write about, I take a look around the room. Slowly panning from left and right, observing what all these little busy bodies are doing in the library. I see some athletes on my left hitting on other athletes, I see some fraternity members hitting on sorority girls, some people are passed out on their desks, and some are frantically typing away at their keyboard. But something else I noticed is that a large percentage of people who are actually awake, who look like they’re actually trying to do work on their computers, are actually on Facebook. Everyone knows Facebook, the large networking program initially created to help connect with other students, to help you find out what work for what class is due when. But somewhere along the line, Facebook pulled an MTV on us. Instead of its original intended use, it is now a completely different breed of beast. When was the last time you actually updated what courses you were taking on Facebook? One? Two Three semesters ago? Now think about when the last time you updated your movies and music categories, or when you last commented on someone’s photo. Probably within the last ten minutes, right?
Let’s face it (ha!), Facebook has become a full fledged addiction among the majority of college students. Now, if you are reading this and thinking, “No way am I addicted to Facebook,” it’s ok, the first step to fighting an addiction is admitting that you are indeed, addicted to Poking people. Why do you think this is? Perhaps it’s the sheer convenience of the website that gets people to fall into its trap. Facebook appeals to the voyeur in each and every one of you. I am sure that countless of Pacific’s students have found themselves at some point or another going through someone’s photo album, reading their wall, and looking at what they’ve been up to. This is voyeurism folks. When you can basically chart out someone’s week through their photos while shrouded under the veil of anonymity, you are getting a first hand view of what spying is like. I know that I’ve had people try to start arguments with me based purely on comments that they viewed under tagged photos. People commonly ask, “My god, what did we do before Facebook?” I actually remember what college was like before Facebook since it only came to Pacific 3/4ths through my Freshmen year. What we did was we went outside more, we were less self conscious about what we did, and probably had more fun. It’s hard to do things nowadays when you have the potential to be put under the scrutiny of a world wide internet audience when someone with a camera can capture a moment forever. Because of Facebook, everyone has the perfect chance to sculpt out how they are perceived by others. You want to look like an intellectual? Add some books that you’ve probably never read into your books category. Want to look edgy? Join the 4/20 group, or make a group about beating up little kids or something. Truth is, a lot of people pretend to be a lot of things that they aren’t. Don’t add a band because you have one song by them, and don’t list a book if you don’t read. Actually, do whatever you want, Facebook is merely a tool, and if someone engages you in conversation about something you were apparently interested in and turn out having no idea what they are talking about, you are the one that looks silly. Actually get to know people for who they are instead of through a bulleted list on some website you check every half hour. “Michael is done ranting about Facebook. 6:43pm”
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