Facebook has evolved into a tremendous resource for sharing content in its 13 years of existence. Especially for people with important creative and socially conscious media to share. And most importantly, it has given a voice to many voiceless with its position as the most known and popular social network currently available. And on a broader level, I personally view myself close to the latter end of Facebook users just mentioned. The network truly has given me a broader network of friends and outlets that I never before had on my local level offline. And there's little doubt millions of others across the world feel the same way. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of push back against what Facebook offers its users.
Much of this push back stems from the aftermath of the failed Beacon initiative. And too many people feeling that the use of people's personal content (though only for a short time) in Facebook advertising infringed on their privacy. This has led to much negative press within the last decade about Facebook's safety. And recent news of hacking during the 2016 American presidential elections probably didn't help that matter any. Facebook continues to update its security and privacy features to address such problems. And across platforms from Windows, Android and ios. Including making people feel more safe from harassment and bullying. So just how could Facebook ever been seen as an "anti social network"?
While Facebook does continue to redefine its privacy settings, its become clear that too many people are not in the know of how to properly utilize those features. On that level, I'll speak from the personal experience that motivated this article. I live with a type of disability where I cannot work. So my only means of outreach of my talents to people is via a music blog I write on WordPress. And a photography community I built on Facebook. Within the past 6-7 months, my attempts to share my work-from Facebook friends to Facebook groups, have been continually treated as spam. Restrictions have been placed on my sharing for "going too fast". And recently, three different Facebook groups reporting my content as spam. This has resulted in three different bans from sharing content in any Facebook groups at all. Along with this problem is how people have reacted to the matter of tagging.
Facebook users post so much content per day within their group of friends, its not always that possible to see said content without tagging people. And I have done this too with a couple of weekly features I have on my own Facebook timeline. There is also a way for one to reset their Facebook profile so that tagged posts can be reviewed before posting. Yet time after time lately, I've been scolded and verbally accosted by one Facebook friend after another about not wishing to be tagged. Ended up making a list for those who wished not to be tagged. At the end of the day, Facebook is a place for sharing people's content to each other. And if someone doesn't understand that the nature of that content, it should not ruin the Facebook rights of the one sharing that content.
Facebook's privacy and security policies are enforced by programmed algorithms. That is the nature of online security in general. That means its up to people to use their own best judgement in handling wanted and unwanted content on the site. But if people aren't aware of how Facebook's setting function, is their own best judgement adequate to this task? The site offers a number of tutorials to understand how to handle unwanted content. And when reporting goes too far even. But for those such as myself who depend on Facebook as a means of support for sharing content? This lack of understanding on behalf of group owners and even individuals on this social network creates social problems. And I do have some speculative reasons for some of these understandings.
One possible reasons for the current understandings of some people on Facebook might be the events of 2016 and this particular year. The very idea that sites such as Yahoo! and Facebook being vulnerable to hacking could be one reason. Millions across the world depend on these platforms for both personal and business communication. And one thing about human beings is that if any person begins to feel insecure with their social mediums? Different levels of fear and paranoia are bound to develop from that. The internet remains an open forum that defies regulation. That makes it the best example of democracies messy side that exists in the world today. Between hacking, spamming and trolling? The internet is still new enough a medium to engender certain paranoid ideas.
The current Trump era in America is very likely a major catalyst in this particular matter. Many people I personally know are uncertain and scared. A handful have either unfriended me or simply left Facebook completely. From the anger at political articles,memes and the current issues with whats known as 'fake news"? It seems social media has become self defeating in the minds of some people. But there is a message for those who feel this way. If any or all of the above probably causes of Facebook fear and paranoia effect a person in any way? Perhaps they should take a little time to remember all of the very positive things Facebook offers. Connection to people and sharing things that inspire-as well as enlighten them. And then learn to jettison any anti social attitudes on social media.
I won't be going back to Facebook. Tired of the bullying tactics of some members in political communities. My girlfriend spends much of her time on facebook arguing with people and/or blocking them because of something said. I have cousins who have pages on facebook, but they rarely ever post anything because they really don't like the attitudes of some of the people they've come across.
ReplyDeleteFree speech is a right, but the consequences of abusing that right are turning facebook into fightbook. I can't believe that many people can be so opinionated and yet less than half the country ever gets involved in elections. I think too many people use the site just to vent on someone...anyone, because they hold all their anger in all day and it must be nice to get online and insult people under an alias. And one can forget about facebook putting a stop to it. For ever person they ban, 10 new aliases are created to continue doing the same thing. It's a wack a mole problem.
Its a pity that people are being made to feel this way about social networks like Facebook. They were designed to bring people together. Reunite old friends. And help make new ones. Before social network existed, a friend moving away could mean you'd never hear from them again. It would be a good thing if more people began using Facebook in positive ways with other people. Many do. But more could do better at that.
DeleteThis is John, and I have some thoughts. I hope you'll take them in a spirit of friendship and helpfulness, because that is how I intend them:
ReplyDeleteFacebook is really what you make of it, but it is a microcosm of the real world. There are going to be people (sometimes even close friends or family) who you don't agree with. You can figure out how to best deal with them on a case-by-case basis so that they don't become Facebook pests. Generally, I just "unfollow" but stay friends because we can get along if we stay away from politics. Some, who are super annoying because they want to be provocative all the time, I put in a restricted group that doesn't see most of my posts. But, we're still able to stay FB friends and have limited contact. I use that for some old friends who I know will never come around, but who also think that Obama was born in Kenya and that he was a Muslim Manchurian Candidate who ruined America. Or, people who see me smoking a pipe and they're like "STOP SMOKING IT'S GOING TO KILL YOU WAAAAAHHHHH". So, they literally see almost nothing on my page. I only de-friend and/or block people when they are just out of line constantly, and won't respond to reason or to a sincere wish to discuss their grievances. I have a cousin who I haven't seen in years, who was going onto my friends' timelines (people she doesn't know) and engaging in all sorts of Trump-lover bullshit "build the wall" rhetoric, and warning everyone that if Hillary won there would be "muslim snipers on every roof top picking off the Christians". You bet I de-friended her and blocked her. She is a stupid, ignorant, self-righteous, and now emboldened bigot, racist and xenophobe. There is not even room for her in my virtual world, let alone my real one.
In my virtual world, however, there are far more positive relationships than negative ones. My interests and work bring me into contact with many people. I'm a natural networker, so I love being in touch with the Facebook hive about everything from musical theater to mustache wax to pipe tobacco to politics.
However, there is an etiquette to observe on Facebook, just as in the real world. You can't force yourself on people. You have to introduce yourself then let them make the next move. It's not realistic to expect every friend to see every post. Too much pressure! Here are some guidelines/suggestions:
* Avoid users whose names sound fake unless you know them in real life and they have a real reason for using an alias.
*Use the unfollow and restrict functions liberally.
* Tag infrequently: it really is best to avoid repeatedly tagging the people. It's like someone poking you with their finger repeatedly. It becomes more annoying with frequency. Being tagged once a week or once a month by a FB friend is fun and helps me keep in touch. Being tagged daily, or several times a day is too much of a good thing for me. When this happens, I tend to remove the tags, or hide the item from my timeline, because it's MY timeline and I want my other friends to read the stuff that I post there, not random items I'm tagged in. That's not anti-social. It's just my personal preference.
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Part 2
ReplyDelete* I know groups can be very cliquish and exclusive. But they are also a great way of sharing your own content, and getting your content into the hands of the people you know who will appreciate it (or at least might appreciate it). So, groups are both a problem and a solution. Don't waste your time being in groups that don't want you or that ban you for posting too much. Instead, create your OWN group(s) or artist page(s) to share your content. Invite people to join your group or like your page, but leave it at that. It's up to them to take the next step. And not all of them will. It's OK to invite them again in 3-6 months. Maybe they just missed the first invite.
* If there's something you think is important to share with a particular friend, send that post to them via Facebook Messenger. That's much more personal and effective than tagging someone in public.
* Expand your horizons. Post your pictures on Instagram. That's what people WANT to see on Insta: photographs and art. Post them on Tumblr, too. There'a lot more there than just porn. For the water-cooler/town-square type of audience, or just mass-marketing, use Twitter. That's what it's for, and you can tag people there to your heart's content and they'll love you for it. Also, do get out and promote your art in the real world. Maybe, if the shows there are cliquish, you could create a group of your own to do a show. Or do it in a friend's home as an open-house. There are always options. If someone won't give you an opportunity, create your own. As artists, we all have to do that. It's good for us!
You have to understand that different people have different ways of communicating (think introverts vs. extroverts). Don't force yourself on people. Introduce yourself, and then let them decide if there's a connection or not. You can't force a connection through tagging. Well, you can, but it rarely works. It's much more effective to start a 1:1 conversation with that person by FB Messenger. You can't (or shouldn't bother) getting mad at people who don't like being tagged, or who unfriend or block you or who are shitty to you in groups. If you're still friends with the tag-weary, respect their preference. If you're not, then don't fret, there will be new friends. And certainly don't waste time arguing in the groups. Find a new one and/or make your own. It's free, and much, much easier and more fun.
I hope this is helpful and wish you great success with all of your creative endeavors. I would also encourage you to perhaps find a way of doing some work in spite of your disability. Perhaps there is a job (or even a volunteer gig) that could utilize your talents. I'm sure a school or a theater company could use a pro-bono (or low-cost) photographer. Be brave, take some chances, don't be afraid to fail. You just have to keep on keeping on, my friend.
I hope this is helpful.
Respectfully,
John