A week or so into our innocent and (intended to be) lighthearted ‘experiment’, we’ve had mostly great feedback, and a few squeaky wheels. We would like to address, briefly, the squeaky wheels.
I would preface this by noting that MOST people use FB in a very responsible way. For that majority, it is simple: a forum to talk with old and new friends, exchange stories and pictures, but still behave as if they were really interacting with others in the flesh. It may even be nothing more than a starting point to gather contact information and then reconnect with friends in the 3D world.
However, for some people, FB (and texting to some extent) is a virtual vice, an intimate friend… and a slight to the real human beings on the other end of the countless computers involved. This group of people exhibit classic signs of addiction.
1. Defensiveness: FB is guarded jealously and defended with acerbity, e.g., our impersonal ‘experiment’ has absolutely NOTHING to do with any one person yet, personal attacks and comments have come this way.
2. Impulsivity & Repetition: it is a compulsive stream-of-consciousness narcissistic narrative, spewed forth without thought, the visual text equivalent of a 24-hour surveillance camera. A related issue is lack of control. It encourages ‘hit-and-run’ behavior; nasty comments can be dropped on impulse with no real repercussions for the dropp-er. Is it a consequence-free environment? Perhaps. FB removes the physical aspect of human interaction from the equation and as a result, disinhibition runs rampant. Some de-volve into a more primitive version of the self, forever acting on impulse and driven by the paleo-brain.
3. Psychological dependence: how many times in a day is FB checked and moreso, can a person stand NOT checking it?
Finally, I think because the whole idea of FB seems harmless enough, those who exhibit addiction lack insight into these issues. I, for one, understand how a person can become addicted to something. That is the whole point of our FB Vacation! We all wanted to get back to the real world and remind ourselves of what is REALLY real. And the blog is our way of sharing the experiences in a thoughtful, responsible, and modern way.
Of course, we are all entitled to our opinions; I would simply like to encourage that to be offered gracefully. Don’t forget, more time spent on FB and human interactions that are comprised mostly of ‘small talk’ are positively correlated with depression, sadness, and apathy… and even increases in social anxiety and ‘cyberbullying’. Just because there is no feedback when posting on the internet in the form of a facial expression, a smile, a frown, or any other body language, doesn’t mean actions have no impact.
(Written by Stefanie, who has a Ph.D. in psychology)
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