The Facebook Dilemma

[Brainstormy]

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I feel compelled to address this issue and to cautiously defend the Uber-rich young CEO of one of America's largest corporate giants. I've got no Facebook stock, don't particularly like Zuckerberg's cool, disinterested Who Me? approach to the power, and influence, that his company wields over American politics and economics, but I have to concede that what Facebook has done, is doing, is more American than anybody's apple pie or baseball game. Zuckerberg, and his company, are in the fix they're in because they met a fundamental national (now become global) need. To CONNECT with each other. Personally. Directly. Graphically. On the basis, originally, of actual shared human relationships (the high school chums, the family members and neighbors, your co-workers) but then to an ever-expanding circle of more and more connections. There were the kids' friends, your friends' friends, your neighbor's friends. The folks who worked with those folks, who had history with them, who connected with you because something--some shared experience, some shared relationship--made you "friends" too.


Facebook has a lot to answer for. Most of the questions, I think, will reveal that Zuckerberg was quintessentially American. Way over his skis. He had built a better, in this case a revolutionarily better, mousetrap, and the glut of mice was not anticipated. I hope he provides answers, but I'm pretty sure that whatever we find out, it will not make me sorry for my Facebook experience. I won't regret the 134 high school classmates I re-connected with, the unknown half-brother I found, the hundreds of pictures and posts of far-flung friends, the almost daily delight of learning about what my kids and their friends are up to. I will deeply miss those connections if, as some have posted here, Facebook should "go away."

Since the election my FB experience has definitely become more contentious, more political, often unpleasant. But it's also been an opportunity for genuine dialog. I've changed a few minds. Or opened them, at least. I've learned a lot. I've been disappointed in people. I've been amazed and inspired by people. Most of them I actually know. Some I don't, really. But I feel a connection with all of them. And, as a basically shut-in individual, whose opportunities for actual travel are pretty much non-existent, Facebook has been tremendously important in enlarging my life.

I hope little Zuckerberg can bear up. That he will be honest and truthful. I hope that he can fix the broken things. Whatever serendipitous events have conspired to make him my champion, I'm hoping he will be worthy. I need the connections.

[blake2012]

1. No. There are much better platforms for all you mentioned. This is like kill your television

Even without the catalying events of fake news, Russian Troll farms, and CA illegal FB data capture, FB is not a force for good. We all need to break free from that superfluous layer of the internet or look for more reasonably run alternatives.

KILL FACEBOOK

[Ms. Toad]

5. Name one other platform that does an equivalent job

of connecting as efficiently with high school classmates, distant relatives, even unknown relatives, and affinity groups.

[Different Drummer]

3. "And, as a basically shut-in individual, whose opportunities for actual travel are pretty much...

non-existent, Facebook has been tremendously important in enlarging my life."


I'm in the exact same situation.

[sakabatou]

4. Ditto

It'd be a lot harder to at least contact people and share similar stuff we enjoy than... on possible other platforms that has such a large viewership.