The Two Faces of Facebook
Your friend? Or your enemy?
Facebook is the well-known social
networking site that was founded by Mark
Zuckerberg in 2004. It started off with a few
users and within days went viral and as time
goes on more and more people are
becoming members. The increase in
Facebook’s popularity has made it nearly a
necessity for young adults to get an account.
In the UK alone there are 32,175,460
Facebook users. Hours can be spent playing
online games via Facebook as well as
contacting friends and family and posting
‘what’s on your mind’. Whilst it is a great
way for young adults to keep contact, share
pictures and pass time, there are downfalls
to Facebook like any other social networking
site. 49.95% of the country’s population is a
Facebook user when only 59.07% of the UK
is an internet user. This shows just how
much of an impact Facebook has had on the
people of Britain.
Facebook can be great if used
correctly. Contacting people has never been
so easy! With a click of a button you’re now
“friends” with your great Aunt, who lives
miles away and now you’re able to contact
her daily without it costing you a penny. You
can share photos and videos and document
your life in a way that will always be there to
look back on. Great, right? Yes, however,
there is a rising issue amongst young girls
that aren’t fully aware of the consequences
of their actions on Facebook and other
similar social networking sites.
The number of girls that add people
that they do not know on their Facebook is
worrying. Yes, the photo shown in the
“profile picture” is an innocent enough
looking girl or boy, but is that who is behind
the computer on the other side? Is it a
“catfish”? How do you know? You don’t.
Facebook and other social networks are
riddled with paedophiles and sex offenders
who are looking for another unsuspecting
victim to prey on. Since 2009, reports of
sexual harassment via social networking
have increased from 139 to 614. In half of
those cases the victim is under 16. Do you
really want to add someone you don’t know
now?
Not to mention the huge risk young
women put themselves at when they post
naked/indecent photos of themselves. Being
“body-proud” is lovely and I encourage every
young girl to feel that way about themselves,
however, posting photos half naked on the
internet, where in seconds it could be
everywhere? The internet is a dangerous
thing especially when the person behind the
computer isn’t aware of the consequences.
Facebook has many great qualities, but that
doesn’t mean you forget the dangers.
By Mahri Carmichael