The Social Network

            I recently saw the film The Social Network and I was completely blown away.  I really did not think a bio film about the creation of Facebook, by Mark Zuckerberg, would keep my attention (let alone fascinate me).  My friend was actually shocked that I did not make snide remarks throughout the duration of the film.  Anyways, many different aspects of The Social Network intrigued me.

            The first factor I was so intrigued by from the film was that once “Tha Facebook” was created, its popularity spread like a vicious case of herpes.  The concept that you had to be invited by someone already on Facebook seemed like a brilliant idea to me.  People like to feel like they are a part of something exlclusive, which explains why Facebook gained more populatiry than, say, MySpace.  The idea of exclusivity gave people more of an incentive to join Facebook.  Whether or not Zuckerberg stole this idea from the Winklevoss twins did not concern me much.  I felt like the twins were portrayed as whiny, rich boys in the film and I barely felt any sympathy for them.  However, their so-called role in the creation of Facebook definitely added some interesting drama to the film and Zuckerberg’s life.

            Watching The Social Network was like watching the birth of my child.  I absolutely love Facebook, but I was disheartened to see that its creation was brought about by people who seem just downright rude and devious.  Mark Zuckerberg was portrayed as an arrogant asshole who did not care who he used as a means to an end, even his seemingly caring friend Eduardo Saverin.  I definitely do not blame Saverin for suing Zuckerberg.  His friend treated him like a piggy bank and would be nowhere now if he had not given him the algorithm for Facemash.com.  Sean Parker was just completely annoying throughout the whole story.  He was ruthless and turned out to be a bigger asshole than Zuckerberg.  But, at the same time, without these assholes I would have to find other creative ways to waste my day and be completely unproductive.

            After watching this movie, I definitely wanted to look up more things about the film: the actors, the real people involved, and the entire storyline.  This did not really work out.  What I did end up researching was the actor who played the Winklevoss twins.  I was so disappointed to discover that they were not played by real twins, but by two people with one’s face on the other person’s body.  How weird is that?  I was surprised to read about how Zuckerberg reaction to the film keeps shifting, first he like the film, then he doesn’t like how he is portrayed.

            Overall, I would say that The Social Network was an intriguing film.  People who love movies should see it and people who love Facebook should definitely see the film.  I was interesting to see how big of an impact the Internet can have on a person’s life and how that impact can affect billions.

Social Networking and Privacy

            If I’m near a computer, I am most likely on Facebook.  Even while I’m typing this onto my blog, Facebook is open on another window.  I can’t even remember what I used to do on the Internet for so long before I created a Facebook profile.  Social networking sites are extremely prevalent within society today.  It has become especially prevalent and popular among young adults and teenagers.  Nowadays, people want to be able to connect with other people, even when they do not have the means to do so face to face.  So now people are staying connected Facebook to Facebook. 

Social networking sites make it easier for me to stay connected with friends and family while I am away at school.  Social networking sites, along with other new forms of communication and technology, allow people to be in constant contact with each other.  I’ll text my friend and tell her to go on Facebook to show her a link, and she’ll Facebook chat me telling me to go on iChat because the connection is faster. 

Technology does seem to interfere with our daily lives.  Our lives online and our lives in the physical world are intertwined nowadays.  A person can say that they have a significant other in their lives in the physical world, but now people will not fully believe that person unless their relationship status on Facebook is set to “in a relationship”.

There is a lack of privacy that comes along with being so closely connected with these social networking sites.  What you put online gives people a window to see into your life.  The amount of privacy you have depends on what you decide to put online.  I have plenty of friends who get upset and complain about so many people trying to “get up in their business” while they choose to treat their Facebook status like a diary and put up every little about their lives.  Privacy on this type of site can also be breached by other people.  One of my friends was almost outted as being gay when his friend posted things on his Facebook wall and statuses regarding his sexuality.  Privacy is a sensitive issue when it comes to social networking sites.  It is hard to regulate privacy for a large and diverse group of people who all have different views on how many and/or what aspects of their lives the want to remain private.  The existence of a lack of privacy on these sites can be scary, since most of what we put up on the Internet stays on the Internet forever.  I haven’t ever put up anything that I would regret anyone seeing, no incriminating photos or angry emails, but the fear of someone tagging me in some crazy photo is always there.

Despite the setback concerning privacy and maybe devoting too much time in the day on them, social networking sites are important to keep in touch with others these days.  The benefits of social networking sites definitely outweigh the negative aspects involved in it.