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JOINING THE 21st CENTURY

by Hazed

After resisting the lure of social media I have finally succumbed, and set up a Facebook account.

My decision to join the 21st century was prompted by leaving my job. I want to keep in touch with the friends I made at the college, and most of them use Facebook. I also think having a public profile will be of benefit in my new job.

So why has it taken me so long? I had a number of reasons for avoiding Facebook previously.

Number 1: I couldn't really see the point. Most of the people I wanted to keep in touch with I saw in real life on a regular basis, or they were Fed players I could talk to in the game. The few that didn't fall into either of those two categories I was happy to exchange emails with.

Number 2: The idea of posting regular updates on what I am doing seemed a bit trivial, and also a bit arrogant. Would anyone really be interested in the fact that I have just eaten a bacon sandwich, or I am feeling a bit headachey today? It's fine to tell people these sort of things in person, but not to post them in public like a health status bulletin from the queen!

Number 3: Facebook is a time-sink. Trivial, yes, but I know the way my mind works and could see myself spending more and more time exchanging these nonsensical facts with people who call themselves my friend when I don't really know them.

Number 4: Privacy concerns. No, not for the reason you are thinking... I'm not too bothered about Mr Zuckenberg and co using my private details for nefarious purposes. What worries me is that it is too easy to forget that Facebook is a public forum, and to post some personal detail that would be better left private. We've all read the stories about people who have lost their jobs because of embarrassing photos on Facebook.

All I can say is that it's a very good job Facebook didn't exist back when I first got online. When I was young it never occurred to me to worry about my reputation - I was outrageous and I didn't care who knew. Luckily, all the embarrassing things I did online there have died along with the computer networks they happened on (Compunet and Genie).

Now I will be much more careful about what I post on Facebook, keeping in mind at all times: THIS IS PUBLIC, AND IT'S FOREVER.

If you're on Facebook find me under the name Fiona Craig, and add me as a friend.

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