Is Facebook necessary?

[lily.]

I know most of you probably use Facebook and I've always been in the minority with my anti-Facebook stance, but I wonder if I'm missing out.

I don't need it to 'stalk' people, but I've found myself unable to participate in contests, or to gain access to information without 'liking' a certain Facebook page. For example, there's a new online music magazine I'd like to read, but I have to 'like it now to get the first issue'. I can't 'like' anything, as I don't have a Facebook account.

This has led me to question if the omnipresent nature of the site makes it impossible to continue to shun it.

Thoughts?

[Smithy]

Can't be that good of a magazine if they need likes :idc:

[Maia]

No don't do it, most overrated website ever

[Niamh.]

Why don't you just open an account just for things like that using an email address that you set up just for that. You don't need to put any of your details or photos up or anything

[InOne]

Most people who don't like facebook just create troll accounts.

[Ramsay]

I dont get why people take such a strong stance against it..its just a website like

[Jords]

Not everything needs a purpose in life, just something to go on from time to time.

[Niall]

I have Facebook mostly due to the fact that everyone else has it and it's a medium in which I can contact my friends easily, for free, and en massé if needed.

If Facebook lacked it's awesome messaging system then I either wouldn't have an account or I would be signed up, but just wouldn't use my account.

I hate the people on there anyway. I only go on there to write the occasional status update or message people. Most of the people in my 'friends' list are so dumb it hurts.

[Samuel.]

Just make an account for liking stuff.

[Harry!]

I was very anti-Facebook up until last August, athough I find it pretty dull. I normally just log in, check my notifcations, like/comment a few things then that's it. Sometimes talk to a few people.

Twitter anyday >

[Marc]

It's useful to keep in contact, and to arrange events.

[Jack_]

Depends on your definition of necessary I suppose. Necessary to life, or to live? No. Necessary if you wish to keep up to speed and not fall behind with regards to the latest advances in technology and the modern world? Well then the answer is probably yes.

Social networking sites are an amazing piece of kit if you're a media institution. They offer so many different capabilities when it comes to expanding and diversifying content and advertising it's unreal. Then again, the entire internet itself offers many capabilities too.

[King Gizzard]

Easier and cheaper than having a phone. Very useful for getting in contact with friends if they're away at university etc etc

Agree with Karl as well

Although Facebook Timeline is so awful and over the place I don't think I'll be on there anymore once they change mine over permanently

[lily.]

I liken it to other technological advances like the telephone, and even the internet itself.

When the telephone was first introduced, I expect there were some people who were resistant to the idea of using it. [And, before you joke about me being around at that time Shaun.. G.T.F.O.]..

And we probably all know someone who doesn't like to use the internet.. possibly in the grandparent generation, although they are coming around to the idea now.

I'm wondering if me [and other Facebook resisters] are merely delaying the inevitable. Will there come a time where Facebook is necessary for everyday things such as job applications and access to news. Will the lack of it hinder my ability to 'keep up' with the world?

Smithy: It's a new magazine. This is the first issue. I think they're using Facebook as an advertising platform. :)

Niamh: I like that idea. I might consider it. I'd probably use my real name, but not use it to network.

[CharlieO]

No not necessary.

I hate the concept and how people are addicted to it. I only use it so I can keep in contact with friends from half way around the world.

[lily.]

I hate the concept of it also Charlie.

Karl, I get that a lot.. the whole.. "why do you hate it so much?" .. It's hard to explain, but I guess it's down to the fact that I don't want my whole life broadcast online for everyone to peruse.

[Ramsay]

I get what you mean but you dont need your whole life on display and like others have said you can just join up to like stuff

[Jack_]

Going off what lily said...didn't Mark Zuckerberg say a while ago at some Facebook conference that he hopes to make the site the 'hub' of the entire internet? So essentially Facebook would become the homepage to the internet itself, whereby you can access well, practically everything you want.

How achievable that is, well...who knows, it seems incredibly ambitious to me. But wow, it's certainly one hell of a business goal. And imagine if it were somehow pulled off, as extremely unlikely as I think it is, but just think, the turnover the site would bring in would be astronomical, and it's already huge as it is :o

[King Gizzard]

Most sites log you in automatically to your facebook account and use it for sign up...I think even this site does or did D:

[lily.]

Most sites log you in automatically to your facebook account and use it for sign up...I think even this site does or did D:

The most tragic thing I ever saw was the option to log in to myspace using facebook. I know I'm holding on to the past, but that made me so sad. lol

[Ramsay]

Bebo has the same thing :laugh:

[lily.]

Not anymore...

-cue tumbleweed-

lol

[King Gizzard]

Facebook is so so dull in comparison to myspace

[Ramsay]

Not anymore...

-cue tumbleweed-

lol

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jezebel/2010/10/ohnoyoudidnt.gif

[Black Dagger]

I've never had much love for Facebook, although it did have a usage for me even if it was for a sexual encounter. It helps keep people in the loop though, although TBF, nothing in life really has a purpose. Just sign up and see what you think.

[Callum]

Really dislike Facebook, it was good before it became the new cool thing for everyone to have a Facebook account. It's the cause of so many arguments these days and I'm glad I stopped using it. Very overrated website, plus I don't trust the site, they sell off your details to companies.

[Doogle]

Eh used to love it but now I've changed my mind. It's pointless except for uploading photos to photo albums because I don't have them on my computer (I keep forgetting to, was too late with Bebo as it closed down recently, RIP my old pictures). People on my friend list have got to the point where I hate all of them and they aren't even friends. Except TiBB people and my real life close friends the other 300 are purely people I "sort of kinda don't really" know and they all irritate me. I'm trying to stop using it because all I do is moan.

However, I found my father on it in 2010; I'd never had any contact with him prior to that and now we talk regularly which is nice. So it has some good purpose, like when I find old primary school friends. Also inbox is a lifesaver when it comes to talking to friends and arranging events.

But overall it's useless and I did like the timeline but it slows my computer and people can see my stuff too easily. Eh, Twitter is far superior.

[Stu]

I dont get why people take such a strong stance against it..its just a website like
This.

It's a handy place to have a muck about with my friends when they aren't here with me. It's pretty much replaced having to text people which is ****ing A in my book.

How can you be 'anti' Facebook? It's like me being totally against painting houses red. I don't get it.

Twitter is useless for talking to your actual friends. Maybe it's because I don't have any friends who use it but for me it's a site for famous people, people wanting to ask famous people questions, and ordinary people using it and hoping others will follow their mundane, non famous thoughts.

[lily.]

Stu, it's me. You know me. You should know by now that I can pretty much be 'anti' anything.

[Sam:)]

This.

It's a handy place to have a muck about with my friends when they aren't here with me. It's pretty much replaced having to text people which is ****ing A in my book.

How can you be 'anti' Facebook? It's like me being totally against painting houses red. I don't get it.

Twitter is useless for talking to your actual friends. Maybe it's because I don't have any friends who use it but for me it's a site for famous people, people wanting to ask famous people questions, and ordinary people using it and hoping others will follow their mundane, non famous thoughts.

This describes my feelings exactly

[Z]

The thing with Facebook is that if it continues to greedily expand in the way that it currently is planning on doing - it'll become one of those things that is so widely available that people start to ignore it and not care about it in the way that it would like people to. Much in the way that Google has - people use it all the time, so much so that they take it for granted, and yet when Google launched a new venture (Google+) people snorted at it and haven't taken to the idea. Who's to say that Facebook won't go the same way? If they start trying to branch out into other things, people might roll their eyes at it and cease to care. And most things on the internet seem to have a shelf life, particularly social media networks - just look at MySpace. I think the increasing reliance on Facebook will be hard to resist but it is an absolute nightmare that your whole life could (and often is) be broadcast through it in ways that you don't immediately realise. Do you really want people to be reading about what you posted in 2007, in 2017, for example? Time will tell...

[Incensed]

I have Facebook mostly due to the fact that everyone else has it and it's a medium in which I can contact my friends easily, for free, and en massé if needed.

If Facebook lacked it's awesome messaging system then I either wouldn't have an account or I would be signed up, but just wouldn't use my account.

I hate the people on there anyway. I only go on there to write the occasional status update or message people. Most of the people in my 'friends' list are so dumb it hurts.


Not so awesome messaging system, mine hasn't worked for the last month :(


Then why have you accepted them as friends? :conf:

[Patrick]

A massive part of society would struggle if Facebook died. Fact.

[Patrick]

Although Facebook Timeline is so awful and over the place I don't think I'll be on there anymore once they change mine over permanently

I've had it for 2 months, it really isn't that bad once you get use to it.

[Bollo]

It depends really, if there are things you want access to that you cannot get anywhere else i.e your magazine it may be worth just setting up an account for that. I think the only detail you have to give is your email address, everything else you can make up and you don't have to put any personal information on at all (at least you didn't when I signed up) and you can set your account to private so no one can view it unless you want them to.
I use it purely to keep in contact with friends and family who are not in the uk or If I want to make arrangements with a group of friends and save my phone bill. I rarely make public posts on there.

[lily.]

It depends really, if there are things you want access to that you cannot get anywhere else i.e your magazine it may be worth just setting up an account for that. I think the only detail you have to give is your email address, everything else you can make up and you don't have to put any personal information on at all (at least you didn't when I signed up) and you can set your account to private so no one can view it unless you want them to.
I use it purely to keep in contact with friends and family who are not in the uk or If I want to make arrangements with a group of friends and save my phone bill. I rarely make public posts on there.

I think I might have to sign up and use it in much the same way. :/

[Patrick]

Eh used to love it but now I've changed my mind. It's pointless except for uploading photos to photo albums because I don't have them on my computer (I keep forgetting to, was too late with Bebo as it closed down recently, RIP my old pictures). People on my friend list have got to the point where I hate all of them and they aren't even friends. Except TiBB people and my real life close friends the other 300 are purely people I "sort of kinda don't really" know and they all irritate me. I'm trying to stop using it because all I do is moan.

However, I found my father on it in 2010; I'd never had any contact with him prior to that and now we talk regularly which is nice. So it has some good purpose, like when I find old primary school friends. Also inbox is a lifesaver when it comes to talking to friends and arranging events.

But overall it's useless and I did like the timeline but it slows my computer and people can see my stuff too easily. Eh, Twitter is far superior.

Points in bold are the points as to why you're abit idioitic in calling it 'Useless'.
It's probably the least useless site on the internet, it's became part of people's lives in a sense - the way texting use to be.

If it were suddenly gone, people couldn't find their long lost friends or family members they lost contact with, they couldn't upload their photos, they couldn't keep up with a large group of people socially, there would be nowhere to share your thoughts with online and get instant responses etc

It's a great site, just they're trying to change far too much - that's the road Bebo went down before people just left it.
But yeah, one thing it isn't - is useless.

[Scarlett.]

I like Facebook, like Twitter it is a brillaint method of gathering information, I mean..last night I was in a conversation with the producers of Silent Hill, this morning I was talking to the guy who wrote the early games. Without social networking, these people would have no way to connect with their fans.

[Doogle]

Points in bold are the points as to why you're abit idioitic in calling it 'Useless'.
It's probably the least useless site on the internet, it's became part of people's lives in a sense - the way texting use to be.

If it were suddenly gone, people couldn't find their long lost friends or family members they lost contact with, they couldn't upload their photos, they couldn't keep up with a large group of people socially, there would be nowhere to share your thoughts with online and get instant responses etc

It's a great site, just they're trying to change far too much - that's the road Bebo went down before people just left it.
But yeah, one thing it isn't - is useless.

Cool.

But it feels pointless now. Once upon a time it was great and helpful. My Dad and I can talk by other means now, and I can go without uploading my pictures; I should just save them to the computer and back them up. It's not the end of the world really. I do that stuff out of force of habit, I have gotten to the stage where everything is habit. I don't need it. I can live without it.

[Bollo]

I think I might have to sign up and use it in much the same way. :/

I know how you feel, I didn't really want to sign up at first either as I was on myspace and much preferred that as it was more music orientated, but then everyone migrated to Facebook and dragged me with them...I never signed up to Twitter as I don't really get the point, but that's probably just me

[Beastie]

I have facebook but only go on it to do a little noseying and check out the latest event I have been invited to. I havn't put a "status" update on there in over 3 years. I just find it invasive and I don't want to put all my life on facebook. I have like 200 "friends" but only like 10 of them I really care about. I couldn't care less if the other 190 blocked me.

I just have it because it's there. But have most settings on private and that.

I rather just go onto other sites.

[lily.]

I know how you feel, I didn't really want to sign up at first either as I was on myspace and much preferred that as it was more music orientated, but then everyone migrated to Facebook and dragged me with them...I never signed up to Twitter as I don't really get the point, but that's probably just me

I have twitter. I like it for chatting with online friends.

I loved myspace. It was amazing, but like you say, everyone left, and you can't really stay there on your own. :/

[Jesus.]

I know most of you probably use Facebook and I've always been in the minority with my anti-Facebook stance, but I wonder if I'm missing out.

I don't need it to 'stalk' people, but I've found myself unable to participate in contests, or to gain access to information without 'liking' a certain Facebook page. For example, there's a new online music magazine I'd like to read, but I have to 'like it now to get the first issue'. I can't 'like' anything, as I don't have a Facebook account.

This has led me to question if the omnipresent nature of the site makes it impossible to continue to shun it.

Thoughts?

Good post. However, anything that needs faceache is not worth bothering about. Maybe you could write to the magazine and explain your situation. I think it's just assumed that everyone has it these days, so companies have become even lazier. The more people that make an issue of these things, the greater our chance of wrestling a percentage of influence back. After all, we're consumers too.

[Locke.]

Comes in pretty handy when you're at school/college. Pretty bored of it now though

[Bollo]

I have twitter. I like it for chatting with online friends.


Forgive my ignorance then, I didn't know you could do that. I always thought it was about 'following' people, but then I am easily confused ...

[lily.]

Jesus: I wonder if my complaint would be taken seriously amongst the 99% of potential readers who already have Facebook. It's hard to be heard when you are in the minority.

Bollo: You can use it to chat also. Everyone uses it for different things I suppose. I follow famous people on it who clearly don't chat with me, but I also follow non-famous people and I chat with them. :)

[Benjamin]

I like Facebook for the fact that it's so much easier to keep in contact with all the people I meet around the world while travelling, and a great way to get hold of them if I'm going to be near them at some point.

[Omah]

Not for me - the only major virus I ever contracted came via a Facebook link .....

I don't use Facebook, I don't want it and I don't need it .....

[Crimson Dynamo]

Its not necessary, its just a fad. if you think it is necessary then its your vanity speaking to you.

[arista]

Not for me - the only major virus I ever contracted came via a Facebook link .....

I don't use Facebook, I don't want it and I don't need it .....



I have Facebook
its great and family and mates on it to.


No one has to have it.

[arista]

I like Facebook for the fact that it's so much easier to keep in contact with all the people I meet around the world while travelling, and a great way to get hold of them if I'm going to be near them at some point.


Yes thats Why it Number 1

[Crimson Dynamo]

I like Facebook for the fact that it's so much easier to keep in contact with all the people I meet around the world while travelling, and a great way to get hold of them if I'm going to be near them at some point.

That sounds like a Miss World answer. :joker:

[lostalex]

I cancelled my account 3 months ago. It's definitely not necessary. I just use text messeging or MSN to talk to the people i wanna talk to, i never understood the purpose of Facebook. I hated the fact that my family could read everything that my friends said to me. It was embarassing.

[Benjamin]

That sounds like a Miss World answer. :joker:

:laugh:

[lily.]

Its not necessary, its just a fad. if you think it is necessary then its your vanity speaking to you.

Can you explain that please, because I don't get what you mean.

[Ammi]

I've never felt a need for Facebook so haven't found it necessary, but I do appreciate the benefits for thos who do find it necessary...if that makes sense

[arista]

I've never felt a need for Facebook so haven't found it necessary, but I do appreciate the benefits for thos who do find it necessary...if that makes sense


Its a Tool

that works on everything.


Its Not a Threat

[Kizzy]

its great, i can keep in touch with old friends even if its just to say happy birthday, anything confidential can be said via private message, and just someone pressing like on a pic of me or the kids makes my day :) i only have close friends and family on no randoms so its all good.

[lily.]

So I set up a facebook. I read the magazine, and it was very disappointing. It was badly written/researched with poor grammar throughout.

What a waste of f.u.c.k.i.n.g time. :(

[Bollo]

So I set up a facebook. I read the magazine, and it was very disappointing. It was badly written/researched with poor grammar throughout.

What a waste of f.u.c.k.i.n.g time. :(

Oh no Lily, sorry to hear that what a let down for you after all that, there should be a dislike or you b**tards button soley for that page

[lily.]

Tell me about it. lol

I have 8 friends now though. My daughter added me, then her boyfriend and 2 of their friends added me. :/ Another 2 kids from her school added me but I declined them. I'm not bloody adding all my kid's friends .. that's a bit weird.

The other 4 are girls [ladies] I know online.. from other places.. so far it's not really doing anything for me lol

[Bollo]

My daughter added me, then her boyfriend and 2 of their friends added me. :/ Another 2 kids from her school added me but I declined them. I'm not bloody adding all my kid's friends .. that's a bit weird.

:laugh2: Oh no, that would freak me out too .... if i had kids and then all their friends started adding me...but the way you worded your post made me chuckle

[lily.]

I don't mind having one or two of them on there, but she has about 500 on hers... sod that.

The ones I added are in my house often anyway, and I've known them since they were little.. they're both about 16 or 17 now.

[King Gizzard]

MSN is worse, though

[lily.]

Worse for what?

[iRyan]

Facebook is so so dull in comparison to myspace

Who even uses MySpace anymore?

Facebook is pretty much an essential as a high school or college students in America. Its how you keep up to date with everyone. Pictures, status updates, event invites, messages, etc. it's all there. It just makes life easier in terms of keeping up with the social scene. It's also a great way to find and talk to old friends. I've found soooo many old friends on Facebook, and if it wasn't for Facebook I probably would never have the chance to speak to them again because I had lost their contact info over the years. It's a great way to keep up to date with people's life's without having to be personally nosy.

[arista]

Soon Shares in Facebook
are on the market Place.


Gamble but as so many use Facebook
Ads are it's rising power.



Feel The Force.

[fruit_cake]

it's ok, wouldn't say it was necessary though. It's a good way of keeping in contact with old friends or acquaintances

[Z]

Who even uses MySpace anymore?

Facebook is pretty much an essential as a high school or college students in America. Its how you keep up to date with everyone. Pictures, status updates, event invites, messages, etc. it's all there. It just makes life easier in terms of keeping up with the social scene. It's also a great way to find and talk to old friends. I've found soooo many old friends on Facebook, and if it wasn't for Facebook I probably would never have the chance to speak to them again because I had lost their contact info over the years. It's a great way to keep up to date with people's life's without having to be personally nosy.

I often think that this is both the greatest and the worst thing about Facebook. Especially with that new Facebook ticker within the timeline that gives you real time updates on what all of your Facebook friends are doing on the site (or sometimes off it too - Spotify, newspaper websites...) you end up, without even going out of your way to, stalking pointless information. It can be really creepy. Who needs to know that I've read a newspaper article online? What if I don't want people to know that? This is what pisses me off about Facebook privacy - they don't make it at all apparent what they are going to do, and often enforce changes without your permission and abuse their unique position of being this somehow necessary platform that people need to have, in my opinion. But as you said, it's a very good way to keep in touch with people. I'm often tempted to deactivate it for a while because I find that if I'm not busy in my personal life, I spend way too much time on it, and sometimes you just feel like you need to get a life away from it, haha. It's a double edged sword - you can see what your friends are up to and let them know what you're doing; but sometimes you don't want that and it shares it with them all anyway.

[MTVN]

I often think that this is both the greatest and the worst thing about Facebook. Especially with that new Facebook ticker within the timeline that gives you real time updates on what all of your Facebook friends are doing on the site (or sometimes off it too - Spotify, newspaper websites...) you end up, without even going out of your way to, stalking pointless information. It can be really creepy. Who needs to know that I've read a newspaper article online? What if I don't want people to know that? This is what pisses me off about Facebook privacy - they don't make it at all apparent what they are going to do, and often enforce changes without your permission and abuse their unique position of being this somehow necessary platform that people need to have, in my opinion. But as you said, it's a very good way to keep in touch with people. I'm often tempted to deactivate it for a while because I find that if I'm not busy in my personal life, I spend way too much time on it, and sometimes you just feel like you need to get a life away from it, haha. It's a double edged sword - you can see what your friends are up to and let them know what you're doing; but sometimes you don't want that and it shares it with them all anyway.

Yeah I know what you mean about the news articles, I make it so I don't access them through Facebook and google the headline instead, it sounds a bit stupid to do that but it just annoys me how it's constantly showing up on my news feed that "_____ read _________ on the Guardian" or whatever, it's not something I need to know or care about :shrug: it also now comes up on that real time thing all this information about people who aren't even on my friends list, like if one of my friends posts on the wall or on the status of someone who isn't my friend it will show up on there, and I don't really see why they do that. The Facebook timeline thing just makes it look like it's gonna get worse, not looking forward to having to get that.

[Kizzy]

sharing interesting articles is ok, daft status updates telling me what x had for tea annoy me though haha. My dtr has the new timeline looks a bit confusing.

[Redway]

Is anything these days really necessary? I just think of it as a place to hang out and chat. Even then, it can be useful. I really don't understand Twitter.

[waterhog]

is facebook needed - how else are people going to get a life ? they love to share whats in there head and its ecapeisum - and anyone who reads this tripe is sadder then the writter if thats possible.

can not stop just putting on my face book i put a thread on TIBB lol jokeeeeeeeeeee

[Kizzy]

if you are the 'writter'...then no, its not possible.

[King Gizzard]

The thing that pees me off about the new article thing is you read it, then realise it was posted in 1998 or something :bored:

[arista]

it's ok, wouldn't say it was necessary though. It's a good way of keeping in contact with old friends or acquaintances


The Bloated BBC says it is
with so many BBC sections now on Facebook.



Its a Personal Tool
you use on many things