Currently, I have over 900 friends on Facebook. A good majority of that number are friends from my undergrad at FSU and my high school, but most I no longer stay in touch with.
I don't use Facebook very often these days, I'll browse on it and see what my closest friends are up to, but I don't post statuses or links very often because I feel as if I'll be judged or, even worse, no one will pay any attention to what I have posted.
Unlike the book, Networked, states in chapter 5, I have a number of friends who I confide to and I am able to trust. But of course, that number is not anywhere nearly as close to 900. Sometimes, that concept makes me feel lonely more than ever. I always contemplate on deactivating Facebook to be done with it altogether, but I feel there is too much importance keeping my account for networking purposes and keep touch with my close friends.
Looking back in recent years, I noticed that I have gotten picky about who I'll send a friend request to or who's requests that I'll accept. Sometimes you'll meet someone one time and never see them again, so therefore, adding them on Facebook seems pointless. Other times, for example, I added my best friend's girlfriend--who I don't generally keep in touch with, but she obviously play an important role in my best friend's life.
This particular chapter made me rethink about Facebook, because Robin Dunbar has stated that our "social brain" can only really keep up with 150 people at a give time. Maybe it would a solid idea to lower Facebook friends from 900 to whatever number that I deem fit, to make Facebook seem less overwhelming to me
900. Wow. Then again, I'm at 6-something, which still bewilders me. So many people, and yet so few who actually show up in my feed. There's definitely something to be said for the Dunbar number.
ReplyDeleteFacebook and other social media tools. Many times I feel happy with the fact that I'm connected with many many people and can be in their life easily all the time. But at the same time, I feel like I have to be careful around social media, due to their openness. Often I think I have to spend some time to think about what to post and whom to share, etc.. This is a nice post. I should think about "social isolation" more!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of friends. I have been conducting a social audit on Facebook and outside social media ever since I've taken this class -- It includes grouping my contacts into categories and purging some. I know it sounds a little harsh, but it is really putting things in to perspective for me. Have you ever considered that?
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting way to do it, however I just feel overwhelmed to go through so many friends. Perhaps one of these days...
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