Overall, Facebook is a tool that is used more for good than evil. It is a great tool that allows people who would normally drift apart, stay connected. You can send someone a quick message just to say hi or say happy birthday to someone who you may not see that day. It lets people know about different events going on in their area, and allows more people to be invited to these things in case word of mouth doesn't work. Facebook also has a natural 'niceness check' built into it. If you post a negative comment on someones wall, others will see it and can make their own judgements about the person who posted that comment.
But in my personal experience; however, Facebook has been used by some to launch personal attacks on teachers and other students. While i can't get into the details of what was done for legal reasons, let me assure you they were vulgar, hurtful things. Students were suspended or expelled. While Facebook allows us to keep in touch with people, it is also an impersonal forum. No one would ever tell a teacher in person vulgar or hurtful things. The impersonal aura of Facebook or any social networking site gives some users a sense they can say anything they want because its not being done in person. People need to learn that what is said online lasts forever. Gone are the days of writing mean things about teachers on the bathroom stall (as my parents told me about from high school in the 70's). Whatever one says online can be traced back to them.
Facebook generally brings people closer together. But is also can easily facilitate hurtful behavior due to the emotionally detached atmosphere.
No comments:
Post a Comment