Social Networking.....am I really better off?

Hi.

I'm Jenna.

I'm addicted to FB.

Whew, I feel better. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right? It all started just about a year and a half ago when a good long time friend of mine gave birth to her first baby. At the time I was on MySpace frequently (which has since turned into a whore site, so I am glad I made the change, lol), but was never really into FB (and yes, I am so addicted that I can use the shortened "letter only" terminology for it, I am that cool). Anywho, this friend was on FB, a new mother, and as you can imagine VERY busy. She politely told me that the nighttime was off limit for phone calls as that was now considered family time (totally understandable), and that if I wanted to talk to her and KIT for the time being until life got settled, FB was my option. So I converted. Very reluctantly at first, then I became totally immersed in the culture of the updates, the picture sharing, the commenting, the total knowledge of what was going on with people. I could KIT with those I loved dearly that due to new life changes I was not getting to see, and those that I had not seen in years that I wish I had never lost touch with. HOW AMAZING IS THIS THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And lucky me, I even scored a few dates out of this. Yes, I managed to turn FB into E-Harmony. That went well. (do you sense the sarcasm?)

Now, almost 2 years later I am finding myself in a precarious situation. I have had my ups and downs with FB. I love the ability to keep in touch and share experiences and motivate and make people smile (and have people help me smile when I need it); however, I have recently come to despise the fact that you can discover that people lie. I will give people the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe they don't mean to. It's what I do, I am a pleaser and I like to see people happy. I also can't fathom lying to those I love. Maybe as a kid/teenager I did, but I have grown up, I have matured, I have changed....I guess I assumed we all had. Regardless if they mean to or not, their lies hurt, and if they say one thing and then put another out there in Internet world it will be discovered and it is hurtful. Some things I have seen are minuscule and alone are not that bad, but they open the door to more serious issues and pain that hurts me very deeply.

So, social networking. Are we really better off? The constant need to share what we are doing, to know what others are doing at every moment even if it hurts. Is it worth it?

Hi.

I'm Jenna.

I'm addicted to FB.