Andrew Kulbiski Facebook Ethnography Hillary Parker; W 1:30
The ease with which we are able to connect with people from all across the world has never been easier than it is today. The internet has made it possible for anyone with a computer to be in contact with billions and billions of people from nearly every country on earth. One way that many people are connecting to each other is through the social networking website called Facebook. Since the website’s launch in 2004 is has quickly become one of the most popular trends in America, and is changing American culture is many different ways.
Computer technology is a huge part of America’s infrastructure. Cell phones and laptops both play a huge role in most American’s everyday lives as they are both used to satisfy the need to feel connected to other people. A popular use of Facebook is using it to stay in touch with old friends. I’ve heard my parents talk about how tough it was to stay in contact with friends from high school. With Facebook it couldn’t be any easier. Just add them and whenever you want to catch up they are a click away. Facebook is just another way of satisfying the need to feel connected. This need for kinship falls under America’s social structure and helps explain why Facebook has become so popular. A lot of importance seems to be placed on popularity in our culture and Facebook can be a way to help measure that popularity, whether it be the number of friends a person has or the number of wall posts they have on their profile. This need to feel accepted is one of the driving forces that have helped Facebook become the phenomenon that it is. You might think that because of this that Facebook is helping to build stronger relationships between people. I think that it is hurting them though, because it is making them so much less personable. Everyone that has Facebook more than likely has some "Facebook friends". That is, a friend that you only ever interact with through Facebook.
Facebook has also helped reduce the need for privacy that many American’s used to seem to want. Now, people’s lives can be put on display through their profile. Statuses can be constantly updated to tell others what one is currently doing. Picture can be uploaded to show what one has been doing. And wallposts can be read by others to see future plans one might have. It used to be that privacy was something that people wanted in their lives, but these days many people’s lives are played out on Facebook for others to see. This could also relate back to the need that some people have to feel connected or accepted. If they upload a lot of pictures of themselves out socializing then it will show that they are well liked by other people. This has helped people in modern American culture to become less discreet then they ever have in the past.