What is the appeal here? Why do I even have one? Why do I constantly check my Facebook? Why do I care if someone 'likes' something I post? It was just a mindless status update, probably about how my day was. Or a favorite song lyric. Why do I have 382 'friends' when I really only care about what 25 of them are saying/doing with their lives?
Facebook has become so integrated in our society. I found out that Osama bin Laden was captured through Facebook. I hadn't checked out any news websites yet that day. I was on a break between classes and decided to check my Facebook. What happens? BAM! Facebook informs me that bin Laden was captured. How does this impact us as young adults? What does this say about how we find our breaking news? There was even a movie about the creation of Facebook.
The movie, "The Social Network" received eight Academy Award nominations and three Golden Globe awards. During the movie's opening weekend it made $22.4 million in the US alone, debuting at #1 in the box offices. What drew so many people to see this movie? Was it the story behind Facebook, the one about Mark Zuckerberg and his life? Or was it that people were truly interested in the phenomenon that is Facebook?
I created my Facebook in 2007 and since then I have added 138 albums of pictures. Pictures that have documented the last four years of my life. Why do I think anyone cares about the 3,776 odd pictures I have on my Facebook profile? Why do I feel the need to update my status and let my 382 friends know how my day was? If my 'friends' really wanted to know how my day was, wouldn't they call or text me and ask? But I still feel the need to update. And let them know. It's so crazy to think about!
As you can see, I think Facebook is fascinating in every aspect.
Even the idea that people around the world make 'friends' with other people and keep in touch this way is interesting to me. The way we interact with people on Facebook, the way it affects our everyday lives is quite crazy, I think. This is why I've chosen Facebook as my artifact. I want to learn more about how Facebook, and any social networking website/device, affects us and the way we react to things in our world.
