Facebook becoming central fact of college life for some users

By Sam Broadbent

December 18, 2007 | During a hush in her day, Jean West, a Utah State University student and avid Facebook user, penned her life experiences in a journal. As her eyes poured over the freshly written words on the page, one recurring thought infiltrated her mind: addiction.

In her journal West wrote, "I am addicted to Facebook. I find myself checking it two to three times a day sometimes more. Before I log on, I get a little excited to see if I got 'poked' today."

Poking is a feature on Facebook allowing users to tease their friends and people they are interested in meeting.

West can be found using Facebook nearly every time she does homework or when she gets bored. She said if she stopped using Facebook she would lose contact with half of her friends and possibly her mind.

Willie Alley, also a USU student, uses Facebook too. However, he has limited exposure.

Alley will usually check his account once or twice a week and doesn't really care if anyone leaves him a message. His primary use for Facebook is keeping in touch with friends who live in different states.

While Alley enjoys Facebook he feels it has definite pros and cons.

Schyler Parkhurst is a philosophy major at Utah State University who does not have a Facebook account and vows to never have one.

"I think it's a waste of time. It limits everything. I mean everyone is getting fatter as it is and like sitting in front of your computer creating online relationships is going to help," said Parkhurst.

Facebook.com is in the top 10 of the most visited sites on the Internet, according to Alexa.com. It has 57 million users, 55,000 networks, and receives over 65 billion page views a month.

Facebook is its own world. It contains college students, non-students, any type of group possible, and enables users to create almost any persona they want. On any given user page one can find pictures of kittens, puppies, or even an individual puking over a balcony after one too many drinks.

Facebook is even used by campus police at George Washington University to catch underage drinkers.

But, beyond just posting thoughts and pictures Facebook has become a way of life for some users.

Speaking from her experience West said Facebook has its influence in her life because she lets it. She feels it is a way to express who she is and gives her more courage to say what she really feels.

West is not alone in her feelings. Facebook contains thousands of forums where individuals can voice their opinions on any topic. For example, Facebook has 304 different groups about grapefruits and over 500 groups about gun control. Facebook will even update you via email if there is activity or comments in any of the groups you are part of.

"Through Facebook a person can live almost there whole life online and that is terrible," said Parkhurst.

Parkhurst still feels that face-to-face contact is the only real way to communicate. You can read body language and actually see the person said Parkhurst. It is sad when a guy can no longer muster up the courage to break up with a girl in person, but will dump her in a posting that everyone can read.

He further stated, users are addicted to the ability to speak their mind in words and images without immediate consequences. This ability to speak unchecked can be unhealthy for many people.

Alley maintains his neutral position in regards to Facebook usage.

"People speaking their mind isn't bad, in fact, by talking on Facebook I don't have to listen to it somewhere else," Alley said.

The problems occur when users abandon their interactions with real people and begin to use depend on Facebook as their primary channel to communicate, said Alley.

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