This is a common topic amongst the netizen, if you google the phrase “world without Facebook”, there are numerous news and statistics concerning this topic. However, before I discuss my point of view from social approach (yes, only social and not economic or political approach) and without touching on the negative aspects to the existence of Facebook. These are some facts on Facebook; content of the following are made with reference to StatisticBrain[i]. Total number of Facebook Users: 1.31 Billion Average number of friends per facebook user: 130 Number of Languages available on Facebook: 70 Discuss on social context, not economical Issues include: privacy, communication (speed, content), gaming So, what happens in a world without Facebook 1) Low speed of communication Creating a Facebook event and waiting for RSVP responses is a very simple task right now. Organising such social activities before Facebook takes more effort than this. Back in early 2000s, the only few ways to know how your friends are doing was through social gatherings where friends simply just sat down round a table and discuss their happenings in their lives. I’m not saying this is not practiced in our current world with Facebook, but gatherings are primarily the most common way to get to know how your friends were doing. 2) In effective archiving of ‘memories’ I remember the olden days where I visit a distant relative and was swarmed with photobooks of old ancient pictures of our families, it is quite troublesome to archive photos back then with albums titled “1995 family – Taiwan” or “picnic with Aunt Rachel”. In the world of Facebook however, everything can be done with a few clicks, reliving the agony of developing the pictures and physically slot them into albums. 3) Breaking down distances On a larger scale, a world without Facebook isn’t as friendly as it is right now and this is how I view it. Facebook was a child from the effects of the Dotcom boom. Before this time, countries were very mutually exclusive and isolated from other parts of the world. You could only read about countries and places through travel magazines, newspaper, etc. It is therefore, very difficult to maintain contact with friends on other continents. Facebook however, made it possible not only to maintain overseas relationship, but to the point of global social activities; good examples will involve global initiatives from World Wildlife Fund or even National Geographic. It is also very interesting to see citizens from different countries can react towards certain political events from other countries. Thus, in my opinion on the differences on the existence of Facebook, I tend to believe that this global communication is a good progression for us humans as it brings different citizens from different countries to have the same nationality of global citizens. Anndy Lian Chief Marketing Officer Scientific Tradition Pte Ltd www.scientifictradition.com |
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