The Effects (or lack thereof) of Facebook

To be frank, the notion that people will become genuinely kindly as a result of keeping their persona acceptable on Facebook is complete nonsense. The key word here is FACADE. It is entirely possible for all of the users of Facebook to appear, especially to their 'loose' acquaintances who don't know better, like morally perfect human beings. Because Facebook allows you to create your own image, in theory, you can be who you want to be. Surely, your close friends will see the flaws in this new online image, but to the general public, you are now the perfect person. It is utterly foolish to think otherwise.

The most profound and best example of why the theory makes no sense is the world. Facebook, according to the article, encompasses more than 100 million users. Let us assume that the majority of them, say 75 million are from the United States. In a population of 300 million Americans, that's 25%. Would you agree that the American population has become 25% more kindly in recent years? No. Americans are still the disgruntled, competitive vicious individuals that we've always been (Not that there's anything wrong with that, that's capitalism!). If Facebook was reallly making people into kinder, more considerate individuals that Mark Z. claims them to be, we would be seeing a real difference in the world outside of facebook. The only reason people appearances become kinder on facebook is because they know that everyone is watching.

To close, the lyrics to "Facade" from Jekyll and Hyde:

There's a face that we wearIn the cold light of day -It's society's mask,It's society's way,And the truth isThat it's all a façade!There's a face that we hideTill the nighttime appears,And what's hiding inside,Behind all of our fears,Is our true self,Locked inside the façade!Every dayPeople, in their own sweet way,Like to add a coat of paint,And be what they ain't!That's how our little -Game is played,Livin' like a masqueradeActin' a bizarre charade -While playing the saint!But there's one thing I know,And I know it for sure:This disease that we've gotHas got no ready cure!And I'm certainLife is terribly hard -When your life's a façade!