Social networking and its ... well, go figure !

A friend recently changed his status to ‘Single’ on FB (facebook). Comments started pouring in. His diplomatic response was – “the status field was blank and hence had to be filled”. Another friend changed his status to “in a relationship”. When asked he told there was immense pressure from his girl friend to clarify his stance (read status on FB :). These are just few examples on how inseparable the online social networking has become in our lives now. Let me clear that by no mean I am here to criticise FB or any social network as more or less I am equally active social animal :); It’s just that sometime it’s impossible to not notice few funny and silly things. This post is an attempt to see few those in a lighter view.

Social networks, let’s just take FB, were earlier used to connect with friends you usually can’t otherwise and have lost touch with. But people living in same city converse through FB. It has become an addiction. Here is one example – a friend post his updates, mostly daily happenings, at time funny, 4-5 times daily and keeps refreshing to see who all friends commented. Once I commented on a friend’s status and saw him liking it within seconds. I watched his wall for next few seconds and observed this for every comment. This was really hilarious. But trust me we all will be in similar situation sometime soon. What is funnier that after seeing this trend in social behaviour, the slow pickers (let’s call them indifferent ones) have also started picking-up. These indifferent ones feel that they might get left behind outdated, uninformed and out-casted and hence join this hoard to be in contact with active online friends.

To me writing/blogging has always been a more meaningful way to express my feelings and thoughts. But with the advent of FB and twitter more and more of feelings and emotions are posted as status- expressed in few words. Sometime he updates are faster than bullets :). One lost his wallet and instead of blocking the card and filing a report, posts it on FB first. A friend had break-up and you will get to know about it on same day. Talking of status, I am still confused about what’s the different between two similar statuses namely – ‘in a relationship’ and ‘committed’? I think both are same, but never mind. Will ask FB addicts this later :).

I hear my friend stating their addiction to FB. Some even post it boldly. And while the addicted ones post their status furiously, others taking a dig at him gets equally engrossed unknowingly. I find it fare to connect through FB but promoting it should never mean that the personal touch gets lost. At this point I will leave you to think whether its effect or side-effects of social networking? But my take is – “Let's connect first, socialize later” :)

PS: post is not meant to hurt anyone's sentiments, I am equally active on FB. Its just a sarcastic stance on the obsession with FB, and no person in particular.