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I think we all know not to judge someone solely on their facebook profile...that is too ridiculous. But anyway...I don't have facebook, but my best friend has and she has like 1,500+ friends...always posts, just by her facebook you'd think she has an awesome relationship with her partner, fantastic social life, everyone loves her. But no one knows that she is struggling financial, her and her partner hardly have money to buy dinner, she hates her job, her partner hasn't touched her in about two months because my friend has gained like 15 lbs and is getting bigger. She has even admitted she uses facebook to feel better about her self. Poor girl!
No, I think you are right. A lot of it is just for attention and has been noted as appealing to narcissistic types, but I have not read articles about it lately.
Think about how TV ads all depict these perfect scenes to sell something, such as a young attractive couple on a deserted beach while vacationing. Then ones having vacationed will laughingly say that it "was not like that." There are always ads depicting 20-somethings laughing and winning in a Casino, partying, dining, dating...in fact, noticing most ads use young people in them (unless it involves health, funeral or financial planning).
Anyway, my point is, I think that people want to reflect what they have been seeing depicted and don't want to fall short, being conditioned for perfection and hiding behind it. The perfect wedding, marriage, dating experiences, home parties, friends, dining out, grandchildren. I have seen people immediately post the dinner-gathering photos, etc. Why? The experience was not enough? Needing to show "how much fun it was", even if not so much. I know that some have big families and maybe it is how they stay informed, but I personally didn't like the format, seeming so superficial and would rather have discussions.
I don't get Facebook. I've looked at it and I think most of it is just people bragging about their trips, their kids, and their stuff.
In fact, I think that if you spend a lot of time there, you might get envious...and Depressed.
What's the point?
There have been a few points in it for me. But it's all in how ya use it. I am part of a large group of fans of a band, and I'd collected a ton of memorabilia. A lot of value in that stuff. I reached a point in my life where my need to own all that was diminishing and my need to get cash was increasing, and I was part of a few fan "groups" on Facebook, where we buy and sell memorabilia auction style. This was before Facebook ever implemented their market tools, which actually annoy me now. I feel like if Facebook is now making it a "thing" with special post formats which it can auto-detect that you're trying to sell something in a group and all that, it's only a matter of time before they start charging fees to buy and/or sell on the site. Which defeats the purpose...I prefer to use FB over Ebay, Amazon, Etsy, or any other market platform BECAUSE there are no fees.
Well for now, you can buy and sell things in groups without fees. So that has been nice. I unloaded thousands of dollars worth of GWAR memorabilia that way when I needed the money, and I've used it to sell my art, as well.
But on a day to day basis, I mostly use Facebook for comedy. I like funny cat memes and videos. If it gives me a chuckle, I share it. I'm there to be entertained, and to share that which entertains me with others. It's also a good way to promote creative content, not just my own, but that of the artists, musicians, writers, etc that I enjoy.
Then there is the thing of people sharing personal stuff with people they actually know, who actually might care. I have a dear friend who just had major surgery, and I appreciate her family sharing updates on how she is doing. It is far easier for them to just put that on blast so that everyone who cares can see what's up, than to have to call a dozen people to get the word out.
Sometimes you post a ton of pictures because family and relatives live far away. It brings families closer and they can 'participate" in each other's lives even though there are miles and miles between them. It's not all about click's and likes in a fake-happiness narcissistic sort of way. Facebook was/is an excellent tool for exactly what i described for my wife's family. They are scattered all around the globe. It's been terrific to still be able to see them and communicate.
Personally I think a persons response or reaction to a person's posting says more about themselves then those doing the posting.
Sometimes you post a ton of pictures because family and relatives live far away. It brings families closer and they can 'participate" in each other's lives even though there are miles and miles between them. It's not all about click's and likes in a fake-happiness narcissistic sort of way. Facebook was/is an excellent tool for exactly what i described for my wife's family. They are scattered all around the globe. It's been terrific to still be able to see them and communicate.
Personally I think a persons response or reaction to a person's posting says more about themselves then those doing the posting.
^^^^^ This, exactly. Also helps me keep in touch with some friends who have moved away, so I can see what's going on with them and their kids.
Maybe people post when they're happy and don't post when they're not happy? Nobody is happy all the time, but, there are those special moments waiting to be shared.
I don't really "do" facebook. However, If someone tags me in a photo it is visible by my friends. The only person who reliably tags me in photos is a coworker with whom I play golf and softball. 75%+ of my facebook presence is golf and softball photos, but those activities together are about 20 days a year. The other 340+ days I am working and spending time with my family.
If someone only knew me by facebook wall, they would think I am a country club going softball bro that likes to chug Heinekens at the local sports bar. In reality I am a somewhat nerdy scientist who enjoys reading to my toddler and watching BBC murder mysteries with my wife on weekend nights. I am not trying to be deceptive in any way, I just don't care enough about social media to create an online profile that is representative of reality.
Some people may deliberately try to create a social media persona that is wildly different from reality, but in most cases I think it just happens by chance because it would take a whole lot of effort to make the online characteristics representative of reality.
Some people use it to stay connected with certain people in their lives
Otherwise it is a social networking site so that sorta answers your question. If you are truly happy, you usually have enough friends you don't need to be networking at all. That's how I've always thought of it
I have a really fun life and am lucky enough to do extraordinary things.
I post on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.
If you don't like what I post you can unfollow or unfriend me.
I follow plenty of people that have amazing experiences and lives.
One particular person I follow, Melissa Hermer, is on a three month trip to Asia with her gorgeous husband and beautiful three toddlers.
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