Ryan ChartrandYou log into the Web site with your expectations running high. Perhaps someone you have never met would like to add you as a “friend,” or even better maybe someone left you a comment about a new sleazy picture of yourself that you recently posted. And would it not be absolutely fabulous if you got yet another post on your wall of fame? Those things are priceless.
Let’s admit it folks, social networking sites like MySpace and facebook are a waste of time, especially for students. Yes, you could be typing up that paper due tomorrow morning, but instead you are hell-bent on collecting more friends. Being the loser with a friend count of only 30 is just out of the question.
These social networking Web sites, MysSpace.com in particular, are also a haven for sexual predators and criminals. Last November a group of Texas high school students used MySpace to plan a “Columbine-like” attack on their school. Luckily, a student’s parent saw the malicious plot online and notified the authorities before the deadly plan could unfold. It isn’t a coincidence that high schools and universities are banning the sites altogether.
In August, MySpace reportedly went over the 100 million user mark. Its popularity has also made it a target for groups like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who claim that social networking sites like MySpace are a “haven for sex offenders and child predators.” Anyone who has visited a social networking site knows firsthand how easy it is to view personal information of a user they do not even know. Everything from a person’s age, relationship status, sexual orientation, and religious views are readily available. On the contrary, just because someone exposes this information does not mean that it is true. Yes, you could be adding a “cool” new friend who made up her “space” because she is looking for friends just as badly as you. As for the middle-age man with the back hair who asked to add you, go ahead and do everyone a favor and click on the “do not accept” icon.
I deleted my MySpace account last year. Now I’m not claiming to be some revolutionary, who is defying pop culture and becoming the 21st centuries version of Siddhartha; it was a personal decision. I was simply spending too much time on the site, while other more important matters (i.e. homework) were not getting done. After about two days of freeing myself from its reins, I realized that it is absolutely not necessary for my survival. To my surprise there is an entire world out there, and it was a world that did not require staring at a monitor.
These sites are also notorious for “hook-ups,” yet ironically do not come with a profile option to list what sexually transmitted diseases one might be carrying. Word to the wise: pictures can be cropped and edited to make an unattractive person look presentable. Whatever happened to meeting someone in person?
At one point facebook.com was supposed to be the alternative to MySpace by allowing students to connect with peers in the same class. But recently the Web site has been opened up to anyone and now basically mirrors MySpace. One would think that acebook would be used for academic purposes. But more often than not people are just as busy putting up pictures and posting worthless comments as they are on MySpace. Granted, I can’t quite get myself to delete my facebook account because I’m convinced it very well might help me in my academic life, although it has yet to do so. I’ve already been suckered in to posting some pictures from a recent pumpkin carving party.
This gets back to the point that social networking is the new hobby of the information superhighway. A hobby that is as worthless as that box of Barbies or the binder of baseball cards. The only problem is, I’m not sure if this fad is going to go away anytime soon.
Do yourself, and your GPA, a favor and click on the “x” in the upper right corner of the computer screen. Then open your word processing software and start that paper. It’s late and everyone else is probably asleep. Those who are logged in probably need to start their homework just as badly as you.
Ronnie Meehan is a journalism senior and Mustang Daily staff writer.