The Social Network

     When asked what the primary unit of Facebook might be, what would be your first answer? Some might say pictures, status updates, a source of communication and social networking, etc. Others however, might describe the primary unit of Facebook to be the self. With a personal page, a profile picture, and a town representing where you are from and where your story began, Facebook wholeheartedly tries to give value and meaning to you, the individual, personally. In correspondence with the self, Facebook addresses an on-going dilemma in deciding where one’s attention should be focused while perusing this worldwide social network.

     In the ever popular film, “The Social Network” itself, Mark Zuckerburg’s story of pure genis and his journey in developing the creation of Facebook, directly shows the transformation society and the individual self has grown into and held on tightly to today. In the clip below one can see Zuckerburg’s character being questioned about the focal point of where he pays his own personal attention.




    Video: "The Social Network-FACEBOOK-the BEST SCENE" as taken from a portion of the movie "The Social Network."

     Stating the most minimal amount of his attention was being given to the lawyer, Zuckerburg expressed the majority of his personal attention and overall focus, was back at the office of facebook where his clients were creating something none of the lawyers men were capable of. Thus leading to what we know and love today to be Facebook timeline.

 

     Picture: An example of a Facebook timeline page itself.

     In today’s day and age Facebook’s creative and intuitive introduction of timeline directly calls attention to one’s self. With a plethora of options to display who one is and how to express details proving so, facebook is limitless when it comes to sharing the story of one’s self. Personal pages and timelines dating from birth to graduation all the way up through one’s 50th wedding anniversary are the memories and attention grabbers that are truly focused on throughout facebook that give value and meaning to who the individual is a whole and what life they are living. Through the building of life stories, the self tries to join different groups based upon their likes, dislikes, and separating the grey areas few and far in between.

    Just as these personal experiences of joy and celebration can be virtually experienced via the impeccable technology capabiliites of the “book” itself these days, it’s important to distinguish and realize just where all the attention might be truly directly focused. While the birth of new babies, weddings, and terrific vacations one might have embarked on might be highlighted throughout the social network timeline amongst friends, attention must also be focused on what is and is not appropriate for public viewing. The purpose of writing one’s own lifestory may indeed be to convey the meaning and value of life surely expressed by pictures displaying a thousand words to the public eye. Extreme caution must be regarded when venturing through this world of social networking as one picture accidentally misinterpreted by interviewers, coaches, or professors these days might indeed call attention to punishments and grave circumstances to be endured as a result of the misunderstanding behind one’s friendly dorm room party last night.