I am basically the epitome of what people are talking about when they refer to the "facebook generation." A good portion of my social interactions occur on the social networking site. This includes messaging my friends, inviting people and being invited to events, posting and viewing photos, and sharing information about my boring day-to-day life. In fact, when I am finished writing this blog, I will post a link to it on my wall in hopes that some of my facebook friends might enjoy it.
I don't have a problem with any of this. Facebook has been a constant and evolving part of my adult life since I left home in August of 2004. (Facebook was launched in February of the same year.) One could even say that facebook and I have grown and matured together.
When I reached Tulane University in the fall of 2004, facebook was still a new, uncertain, moderately well developed networking site for college students at select universities ONLY. This meant that there was a limited pool of users and that these users were essentially all my age. Facebook basically functioned as a collection of those white boards that people hang on their dorm room doors for others to write messages on. Sometimes, friends leave important messages, but mostly people just get drunk and draw dicks all over everyone's doors. God, it was fun.
In September of 2005, facebook became available to students with valid high school e-mails, which creator Mark Zuckerberg considered the next logical step. It wasn't until September of 2006 that the network was opened to anyone 13 and older with an e-mail address. Even then, it took some time for facebook to become the cushy, parent-friendly place it is today.
I have developed a sort of timeline that demonstrates how my use of facebook has changed as the site has become less college-centric and as I myself have aged and matured. I don't claim to fully understand whether my newfound maturity or the diversification of facebook membership has done more to temper my online activity. Let's just assume it was a combination of the two.
The Timeline:
Fall 2004: I drunkenly browse through Tulane student profiles one night after returning from the bar. Upon finding a guy who looks cute in his profile picture, I send him a message saying something like, "This is creepy, but you're a hottie!" This is before the advent of photo tagging and thus my nighttime stalking ends there.
Later, the mystery man and I run into each other at Jimmy's, recognize each other from facebook, and make out for a few minutes. We part ways and have not spoken since.
Fall 2005: Desperately missing my bff Heather during the Katrina break, I either initiate or continue (probably the latter) a rather filthy string of back-and-forth wall comments. This battle reaches its apex when I graphically describe a scene in a pornographic film and indicate that Heather reminds me of one of the less savory participants.
All is well as only college students and a few, bold high schoolers are currently members of the facebook community. That is, until Heather's mother discovers her open facebook and reads the comments. Brief, alternating periods of shame and hysterical laughter ensue.
Fall 2006: While pre-gaming a FIJI frat party in Maddy's dorm room, an impromptu photo shoot breaks out. At one point, I am standing over Heather and Andre as I photograph them on the floor, "looking like they are standing on the wall." (?)
Anyway, an up-skirt photo of me somehow results and we all laugh about posting it on facebook, which we do not hesitate to do. The photo is not graphic or vulgar, but it is not exactly classy or professional, either.
Winter 2006: Apparently nobody is friends with their parents or bosses yet, because a particularly hilarious, pterodactyl-themed porn clip makes its rounds on the walls of many of my friends. We all laugh.
Spring 2007: I post a note containing an instant messaging conversation I had with a friend whom I have not seen since middle school. In it, while discussing sexual ethics, I argue the hypothetical value of raunchy, porno-style sexual relations. The level of filth gradually escalates until my friend abruptly ends the conversation. It is one of the funnier things I have ever experienced.
Summer 2008: I edit my profile to make it acceptable to judgmental and concerned adults and untag any blatantly inappropriate pictures.
Winter 2008: I am home for Christmas break and left with some spare time. I use this time to go through all of my own posted photos and remove anything that may be viewed unfavorably. I also view hundreds of tagged photos of myself, imagining the impression I would get if I were a stranger, and untag any photos that give me a bad fake first impression.
Summer 2009-present: I untag obviously drunk or unsavory photos as they are posted. I often use symbols in place of expletives and staunchly avoid sexual innuendo. I (rarely) remove comments and wall posts from my friends that reflect poorly on me or the company I keep.
Facebook isn't as fun anymore.
I know that my use of the site probably would have changed as I aged, anyway, but I can't help being bitter at all the adults and kids who have invaded what was once a really enjoyable playground for those in their early twenties. I understand that the logical steps for the company were to further expand the network and involve over 500,000,000 individuals worldwide. For the most part, I like the changes they have made. Still, every once in a while, I just want to go back to the days where a facebook wall was like a college white board, gloriously full of sloppily drawn penises, endlessly abused, and so full of youthful promise.
