The future and its discontents. Is social networking all that social?

[Computer]

Dunbar's magic number might be a starting point for thinking about this question. And as a disturbing study expressed, which compiled data from a 30 year period, the young are showing a steep decline in empathy. Here's one article on the study.

I'm sure that many of you are on Facebook, or other networks. Does the juggling of all this data--people reduced to bits--provide a liberating experience to you the end-user? Have there been meaningful relationships forged? What kind of a psychological impact do you think it's had on you?

[fen mh]

I use facebook but I can't say that I truly like it. Now aside from the fact that they collect all kinds of data and end up selling your privacy to whoever, I also find it a lot less fun than, for example, forums.
In a forum you're in y forum and you can say what you think and it doesn't matter because the people you talk to will never know who you are or where you are, or at least they'll never meet you. On networks like facebook you are basically forced to lie or, like me, say nothing most of the time because there people know you, unless you are one of those freaks that will add everyone as a friend even though they have no idea who they are talking to.
I created my facebook account a number of years ago, and if I would have had an idea how they are going to steal and sell my data, I would have not signed up. Now I have the account and I reduced the use to posting something meaningless once in a while or getting in touch with friends for things like party invites.
All in all though I think social networks are for idiots. You can't be yourself 'cause everyone that knows you in real life can find you just like that, and that makes almost all the conversation on those sites so dull that there's no real fun in it.

[The_Almighty_Stan]

Unfortunately I can't watch the video while I'm working, so I'll just base this answer on the topic title.

No it's not. It starts off very social, then complacency sets in. People become content to just observe rather than participate in any meaningful social interaction. I mean it tells you something when the fastest rising social network is completely based around posts of 140 characters or less (Twitter). It's no surprise that this kind of behavior carries over to real life.

[fen mh]

Hey! Sorry it took me this long to reply. Today is the first time I've come here again since...
Glad you read my response. Also glad you started the subject. I have talked with people about this but most people don't seem to understand what I am telling them, or they are the paranoid kind of people that insist that the commercial aspect of collecting and selling data is only a by-product, that the main goal is in fact spying on everyone's life for everything. Like, don't get me wrong, I don't just believe that they do it, I know that they do it. Facebook is a huge commercial data stealing and spy machine, and yes, of course it's also used to get information about people's private lifes. But I still always get both, amused and annoyed by the people that come up with things like , "OMG, on your account there is a picture of you smoking a hash pipe. Are you even aware that this data is looked at by the government and secret services and so on? Ever thought about the fact that you are handing them the evidence of you committing a crime? That is so naive and stupid." YEs, SERIOUSLY. I used my own words, but the idea was someone else's. Maybe they should have warned me that my landlord or co-workers (if I had any) or grandma see that. Not like I'd care, but you get my point, I'm sure.

[goodomen]

I deactivated my Fuckbook now that I got Bolt, Bolt, BOOOOLLLLLTT!!!!

[thє вluє wαndєrєr]

With all that it lacks it's better than nothing. If you live some place that's not very populated and there's nothing to do then having ppl to connect with via social networking,email,and etc can be the emotional "pick me upper" you need to get you through the day. Humans are social creatures and if this is the only means in which you can interact with others then so be it. I remember bolt in the tail end of the 90s and early 2000s and we were always ahead of the curve as far as social networking goes.

[goodomen]

Yes and the most satisfying response to people with little to no empathy is anger and violence!!

[Courtney]

I think social networking is what you make it and I'll throw myself out there for in this topic. I used to have a myspace, facebook, etc. to connect with friends. But then I realized I was connecting with my friends face to face and through the network and it was too much. The phone calls declined, the emails declined, and most of all face to face interaction was crap because some put all of their lives out there and there was nothing left to talk about. Which brings me to my next point: some things I wanted to know, some I didn't need to know. Me personally, I would rather use social networking for those I CAN'T see face to face or to meet new people. Which CAN be very social. Maybe I made most of the social networking out to something it wasn't meant to be or intended for. Maybe everyone else did to. I don't know. It is what you make it.