Whither the Individual

            There is no doubt in anyone’s mind nowadays that the generation of Facebook is taking over. There are many debates at this point as to whether or not my generation is the “dumb” generation because we put so much faith into our new technologies. This faith has caused those in the previous generation to question our intelligence and dependence on technology. But the way I see it, no one knows how our generation will turn out because there has never been such a technology boom at any other point in time. When the car and the telephone were invented, the generation had to adapt with the new technologies of the time but they were not looked as dumb for relying on these new advances, but were praised for what they had found. Why is this not the same for my generation? We have adapted better than any other generation to the advances around us. We are the first to grow up with the technology that we have, so I think it is unfair to say that it has made us stupid, it had just caused us to think differently. We cannot determine whether this is a bad difference or a good difference, but instead have to just see where it leads us. The advances in technology are not going to stop, and nor is our dependence on them, so it is best to learn to change our mindset as technology grows.

            The Facebook boom has caused people to question where the individual has gone. This is relatively stupid. Instead of conforming to one idea through the social site, individuals have learned to express themselves and their interests. Through Facebook, people can choose exactly what they want put to the public, and it increases each person’s chance to get focused on. Most strive for that few minutes of fame, and Facebook allows a person to feel like they get that every day. When people complain that they don’t get the privacy they want from social networking sites, it’s frustrating because they choose what gets put out there. If you don’t want it known, don’t put it on Facebook. It’s really as simple as that. Somebody doesn’t want an employer to know that during the previous weekend, they got too drunk to remember some of the pictures being taken? Fairly simple answer. Do not put those pictures up, or ask friends to delete them if they don’t come from your camera. There’s no use in complaining about the lack of personal space on these websites. At this time they are such a social phenomenon that not everyone on it can be pleased.

            Is the individual withering? I don’t think so. I know who I am and I believe that my Facebook only helps others increase their knowledge of me, because I choose to share. People can argue that in today’s world, everyone “needs” a Facebook in order to stay connected with work and school, and I believe that this is true. However, this Facebook does not have to be used as a place to post pictures, write inane statuses and to let friends write stupid wall posts. My twenty six year old cousin has a Facebook, but he works with the government in Washington D.C. so his is fairly professional. Instead of posting of stupid things he spent his weekend doing, he posts blogs and political issues of today’s world. Facebook is not necessarily a bad thing; it can be used to increase one’s professionalism as long as one learns to control it.

            Mark Bauerlein, author of The Dumbest Generation, believes that the internet is where people "seek out what they already hope to find, and they want it fast and free, with a minimum of effort.” So? Maybe this is the new way of life. Bauerlein agrees that "never have the opportunities for education, learning, political action, and cultural activity been greater," but does not understand that the internet only helps students feed that information. Why is it a bad thing that we can get all the information we need to know from the click of a button? As long as education adapts to these sorts of advances, we have the opportunity to go far beyond what has ever been dreamed. Think of how powerful one can be with not only all of the history of the world at their fingertips, but also the knowledge of today’s society and the ability to keep up with the changes. My generation can all do that.

            Yes, the world has gotten smaller because of these kinds of sites. But does that make us bad people? Is it a bad thing that if I wanted to, I could meet someone in Greece? In Egypt? In Russia? No. Social networking sites may make our society smaller, but only more unified. It doesn’t squash the individual, but brings out the creativity in all of us. If this is not wanted, it does not have to be accepted. I don’t believe in the “hyper-people” theory as long as everyone keeps to reality. And, in today’s world, reality is definitely focusing more in the internet world. Is it a bad thing? Only time will tell. We can’t be sure until we experience it, and that is what my generation is trying to do.