Facebook

[Rorschach]

I should write a book... Facebook - and why I hate it.
But then I'd have to write the sequel... Twitter - and why I hate it more.

This article was a welcome relief and reassurance that, good common sense, still exists in Australia.

Status update: we don't like Facebook
October 3, 2012
Michael Gordon
National Affairs Editor, The Age

Our relationship with Facebook: It's complicated

While we're getting sick of the constant updates, blurry photos and silly rants congesting our Facebook feeds, we just can't seem to keep away from the social media giant.

AUSTRALIANS are beginning to turn away from Facebook, hallelujah with an increasing number of users rejecting the culture of ''narcissism and self-absorption'' they say it promotes, well it does according to the latest snapshot of the nation's mind and mood.

They are also more pessimistic about the future, increasingly worried about their job security and scathing in their criticism of the Gillard government - but unsure whether a change to Tony Abbott's Coalition would make any difference.

Less enthusiastic about logging in ... Australians are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Facebook culture of "narcissism and self-absorption".

They are also more cynical about sport, seeing it as more about mass-market entertainment than sportsmanship or athleticism and more aware that depression was ''a real issue for men''.

The six-monthly Ipsos Mackay Report, obtained by The Age, paints a bleak picture of consumer sentiment, with about 95 participants in 16 focus group discussions saying they feel the same or worse than they did 12 months ago - and fear what will happen when the mining boom ends.

But while some fear the middle class could be squeezed ''out of existence'', there is also a recognition that negative sentiment, rather than reality, is driving the national mood.

One participant compared the global economy to a hospital, saying: ''Europe's on life support, the US is in the general ward and Australia is in the ward for hypochondriacs.''

Rebecca Huntley, the executive director of Ipsos Australia, said she was struck by the general dislike for Julia Gillard and her government - especially the hostility of some women - but also by the antipathy for Mr Abbott. But she said the newest trend was the emergence of a less enthusiastic, more critical take on Facebook, after years of positive talk about the wonders of social media.

''A key complaint amongst some was the culture of narcissism and self-absorption that appeared to be rife on Facebook,'' the report says.

Facebook users also complained that the constant flow of status updates is becoming ''time-consuming and tiring'', boring I'd say with some saying they wanted to close their Facebook accounts but felt they had no choice but to remain a user if they wanted to stay in touch with friends. i only joined recently to see the page set up by an old friend whom now lives O/S... you've gotta register to get access!!!!!

''Participants also felt that much of what others posted on Facebook was either trivial or obsessively repetitive … and that the boundaries between what is public and what is private have blurred,'' the report says.

The report did find support for Facebook, with some frustrated consumers reported taking to social media to put pressure on brands and companies to adequately address their complaints. ''Others discovered the power of Facebook to build their own businesses.''

Some participants felt that Facebook was blurring the boundaries between the public and the private, with dumb young people, and aren't they prolific in particular, concerned that current and potential employers would use Facebook to catch them behaving badly or faking sickies.

''Bullying and a general lack of civility on social media also worried some participants,'' the report says.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/d ... z28CjCM1p5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Neferti]

I have never bothered to join Facebook or Twitter. I've seen a few friends/rellies pages on Facebook but that was way before they made you register to just look.

Who wants to know (or tell) what everyone is doing this instant? As far as I recall, you can't even delete stuff on Facebook. What If 10/20 years on you become a Politician and "somebody" refers the media back to what you said on Facebook all those years ago.

[Black Orchid]

You can delete whatever you like on Facebook and you don't have to register to just "look"

It all depends on the settings people have. If they have it set to "public" anyone can view but if they have it set to "friends only", only friends can view. Which means whether you are a member or not you wouldn't be able to see anything unless you are a "friend"

[Neferti]

You can delete whatever you like on Facebook and you don't have to register to just "look"

It all depends on the settings people have. If they have it set to "public" anyone can view but if they have it set to "friends only", only friends can view. Which means whether you are a member or not you wouldn't be able to see anything unless you are a "friend"

There you are. I didn't know that. Thanks, Orchid.

Not that it makes me hurry to open a Facebook account with all my private stuff in full bloom for rellies to note. Rellies come in two forms. The In Laws and the Out Laws. Some I certainly do NOT want to know what I do 24/7. None of their beeswax!

[Black Orchid]

Just like any other place online. It's up to you how much, or how little, info you give out AND who you allow to see it

[mantra]

I use Facebook to keep track of family especially when they're travelling. It's also good for instant messages, but overall I don't disclose any information about myself and warn others to do the same.

[Super Nova]

I use Facebook to keep track of family especially when they're travelling. It's also good for instant messages, but overall I don't disclose any information about myself and warn others to do the same.

Ditto.

I use it to stay in contact with my FB obsessed family in Australian.

I have no personal information on there and incorrect date of birth and location.

I never subscribe to any of the aps, never done a like ...etc. All this information is used to target ads ...etc.

Security is at it's highest level.

A danderous place to play if you are not careful.

Also, I don't really care what these people have had for dinner or when they last went to the loo....etc.

Some only friends have tracked me down using it... so it has some good purpose.

[mantra]

My daughter is into Facebook unfortunately. It worries me, but I can only warn her. As far as Twitter is concerned - I can see no point to it. I registered out of curiosity a little while back so I could have a look around, but after 5 minutes couldn't tolerate the low grade, superficial brain dead and gossipy comments. It may as well have been a kids' chat site.

[Neferti]

My daughter is into Facebook unfortunately. It worries me, but I can only warn her. As far as Twitter is concerned - I can see no point to it. I registered out of curiosity a little while back so I could have a look around, but after 5 minutes couldn't tolerate the low grade, superficial brain dead and gossipy comments. It may as well have been a kids' chat site.

Your daughter isn't a teenager so don't panic, Mantra. She must have some nous and you being a good Mother have drummed into her the dangers, etc but I presume she is still at that age when we all felt that nothing bad could happen.

Like Jill Meagher .......... at 29 you would think that kids have some worry about wandering home, regardless of how close it is, in the dark! Then, that could just be me. I have always been a little afraid of the dark ...