Facebook and How It Affects Our Lives

Keywords

Internet, facebook social site,

social relationships , antisocial behavior ,

Abstract

Facebook as a new social site trend is now the number one form of relationship creation. The development of Facebook has attracted much research from individuals interested in human relationships based on personal characteristics and personalities.

Prologue:

"The internet's ability may be referred to as a new world state," as promulgated by Elmer Dewit Philip, an eminent author; it has a linchpin informative role but also a significant effect on communication because the internet today serves as a significant human necessity. Aside from the immense amount of information it offers, the internet since 2002 with the introduction of Friendster offers means of communication and interaction through websites referred to as ‘social sites.' Friendster enabled its users to correspond with one another and to provide personal contact information. Within a few months, websites similar to Friendster started to become a new internet trend, such as Livejournal and Hi5. Recently, however, Facebook, which is celebrating its five year anniversary, has dominated the social site fad. In a recent study, 31% of the participants declared Facebook as one of their top five favorite websites whereas 15% categorized Facebook as their top website. Through Facebook, its users develop their social relationships by communicating with their friends but also by meeting new people all over the world through new Facebook friendships or by becoming members of certain groups affiliated either with a certain cause or purpose. Since its founding five years ago, Facebook has become a modern communication method. Facebook began in 2004 when Mark Zeckerberge, student at Harvard University, decided to create a social website for his university in order to communicate with his classmates. Later, this social website began in universities in Boston and the New England area. Facebook remained a communication method only for American universities until September 2006 when any user around the world was permitted to create a Facebook account. The founder decided to expand the site to non-university students in order to keep in contact with university graduates because these individuals after graduation could no longer keep their Facebook accounts. When Facebook became a worldwide social website, Zeckerberge experienced major success. This success, however, resulted in a major lawsuit between Mark Zeckerberge and Harvard University graduates Tyler Winkeleross, Divya Narendra, and Cameron Winkeleross in order to legally determine who possessed the idea for Facebook. The aforementioned graduates insist that they hired Zeckerberge in 2003 in order to complete their social site project name ConnectU when he stole their idea. Allegations state that Zeckerberge disappeared between November 2003 and January 2004, and he continuously avoided communication with the three graduates. The ownership of Facebook will be decided in court. In addition, another Harvard graduate has accused Zeckerberge for stealing his idea. He said, "I do not know if Mark purposely copied or if it happens to a coincidence, but I do know that he's dishonest. I have seen him lie before." Six months before Facebook's creation, this Harvard graduate also created a social site called HouseSYSTEM that enabled its users through a certain application to upload photographs and personal information called "Face book." This name similarity, however, does not prove anything because all university students in the United States receive a book called "Face Book" with each students picture and contact information in order to promote communication among students.

Professor Nikolas Christakis of Harvard University asserted, "We are at the birth of an innovative interaction system." In the United States, Facebook is receiving much academic research attention by experts in fields, such as psychology, sociology, and political science. Researchers found that Facebook enables its users to develop communication skills. Users tend to follow the Facebook trend of uploading photographs and joining groups associated with philanthropic and/or political causes, which build a certain type of community within this social site. The growing fad of using Facebook as a communication means instead of e-mail, mobile phone usage, or personal contact is starting to replace these types of "passé" forms of interaction in order to form a more efficient internet world state. Facebook, however, cannot be labeled as a negative or