Facebook has quickly become one of the most popular social networking websites on the internet. It has thrashed Myspace in its popularity. Nowadays Facebook is available on your computer as well as through most mobile devices like cell phones and I-Phones. And it has developed some downsides too.
People like professional singers, artists, and musical groups have created their own Facebook pages and they use them as their latest works’ advertisement. While majority of people use Facebook to enhance their lives in part-time activities, most of the youngsters spend time on Facebook or any other socializing website to make new friends and play online games.
Facebook is quite addictive. Once you start using it, you tend to check your friends status message at least once a day and think about posting a better status message to your profile. You become upset when you cannot find a person you are looking for online when you log in. You put off your important office work or study time just to browse through Facebook. Beware; it could be a symptom of Facebook addiction disorder (FAD) in psychological terms.
One of the most important addictions on Facebook is hundreds of online games. Mafiawar, Farmville etc are examples of some online games available in Facebook. We can spot number of adults too who play these games in office hours. Just meant to say, not only youngsters are inclined to Facebook Addiction Disorder, but adults also!
No wonder why Anthony Orsini, principal of a Middle School in N.J requested the parents of his students to put on parental control! According to Orsini there is no positive point absolutely for a middle school student to be a part of social networking site. He blames online gaming too for spoiling kids.
Suggestions made by Orsini to get your kids off Facebook addiction are as follows:
Kids should not be allowed to place a computer in their bed room. Instead place them in a public place so that everybody can see what is happening. Do not even let your kids to recharge your family laptop at their bedroom!
Orsini strongly recommends the installation and use of Parental Control software. Also every parent should check their kids’ messages at least once in a week. Further he says they do not need interactive communication devices to play online games.
Parents might be positively accepting Orsini’s suggestions. However, for adults who are Facebook addicted these points are not going to help. There will not be anyone to monitor your activities or put parental control on. Here, you should admit that you have a problem and try to get rid of that. Think about your goals on Facebook, why you really want to use Facebook or any other social networking site? Remembering birthdays, find and keep old friends? Fine, stick to that and reduce the time you spend on Facebook. Think of other things you could be doing with your time spent on Facebook such as a part time job, being with friends or family, etc.
Now, Orsini’s advices about Facebook seem to be more appropriate for adults than for kids!
No comments:
Post a Comment