Facebook fail

Image by: Tiffany Lam

This month marks my year-long anniversary with Facebook. Like most relationships, ours began filled with excitement but soon regressed into an endless cycle of banality.

Facebook’s clique of oversharing new moms and attention-seeking tweens didn’t make matters any better. Despite its known shortfalls, Facebook offered me an opportunity I couldn’t refuse — an online presence.

My personal decision to abstain from Facebook until last year was based on many reasons. Peer pressure hadn’t driven me to join other popular social network sites in the past, such as MySpace, Club Penguin or even Neopets, so why would Facebook be any different?

Privacy was my other major issue with Facebook. It creeped me out that random strangers could see so much of my personal information. My friends assured me that privacy settings could be controlled but I still

remained skeptical.

Despite all of my logical reasoning, I had forgotten to factor in one important detail: the social aspect of Facebook.

People always assumed I knew about an event because it was on Facebook. In reality, though, I was left completely in the dark.

A small part of me hoped that Facebook would only be a passing fad, like sequin Uggs or coloured ketchup. Despite my high hopes, it began to dawn on me that Facebook was here to stay.

When I finally got fed up of my seemingly flimsy excuses and decided to join Facebook, I was hooked.

The initial buzz I felt after joining, however, was short-lived.

I’m not the only one to be disappointed by Facebook; more and more people are currently deactivating their accounts and turning to newer sites like Twitter and Pinterest.

Facebook was the shiny, new toy that seemed fun from afar but disappointing up-close. Like millions of others, I had fallen victim to the website’s alluring promise to “Make the world more open and connected.” If openness and connectivity can be achieved through the mindless act of cyberstalking ex-boyfriends or harvesting virtual crops on a non-existent farm, then congratulations Facebook, you have accomplished your mission.

Happy one-year, Facebook. Thanks so much for connecting me to a world of narcissists, celebrity news junkies and Tetris addicts. What would I ever do without you?

Chloë is a copy editor at The Journal.

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