Facebook- no thanks

Published: 13/01/2008

Facebook No thanks.
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

First came must-do blogging, now comes Facebook, the must-join virtual club for the ambitious and sundry others with more time than sense. Worldwide there are already fifty million facebookers. The socialising site arrived only three years ago and, according to Ofcom, it is more frequently used here than in any other EU country. Dismal news, totally depressing say I. Curmudgeonly old codger, reply many of my good mates who have enthusiastically thrown themselves into the newest internet fad.

Facebook suits the temperament of indigenous Britons- in general thought to be reserved ( unless drunk), not given to Mediterranean or Third World expansiveness, poor communicators, sometimes neglectful of relatives and buddies. Unlike other Europeans we are all now disastrously time poor and fatigued too and neurotically competitive. I can see how the site appeals and entices. Come in, come into Egomania PLC, it’s easy, meet the millions already signed up, hug and high-five as many as you choose ( Remember that this is about quantity, not quality and a consistently high tally adds to your share value. It is your bottom line).

Some of the dangers of the network are obvious- subtle product placement, identity theft, yet another facility for advertisers to cash in on personal contacts. The on-line shopping habits of some members have already been made available to businesses without proper consent. Other dangers are less in your face as it were , but even more worrying. Members voluntarily surrender their own privacy in order to impress. Chums – false and true- are trophies. The information and photographs shared are disseminated fast and carelessly. Do you really want to show your family snaps to a thousand people at once? It cheapens everybody and everything. Only the most gullible would believe that all those who have agreed to be their friend or vice versa deserve to be admitted within that precious circle of true friendship. What happens, you wonder. when they fall out?

Think of Facebook communication as soulless electronic round robin letters and it appears very sad and sorry. Enthusiasts say they don’t have the time to ring a mate or a meet a sibling and yet roam the net for hours craving artificial affection.
This is no substitute for talking in real time and physical place, touching the hand and arm, reacting to the eyes and facial expressions, the chuckles and sobs. On the phone you still have the distinctive individual voice and sounds of laughter and tears.

So here’s my advice. Stay out. Don’t click on to embrace a cast of thousands. Choose discretion over populism. Remember Miles Davies would never have been on Facebook. That’s real cool.

Published in Evening Standard