The Evils of Facebook

[tubaloth]

So this past weekend we had our stake conference. I'm in a singles ward stake and we have a couple of married wards (for newly married with no primary, but there is Nursury).

The saturday night session the Stake president gets up and says a couple of quotes about the Internet, and pornography. Nothing to surprising really. (In this day and age)

Then he talks about how satan has taken a good thing and twisted it. He said he has had people come into his office that have said there Husband doesn't love them anymore because they found somebody else on Facebook that they knew years ago. He said this has happen more then once and said he didn't want to talk about this, but he knew the Lord wanted him too.

I have not gotten onto the Facebook bandwagon. I know plenty that have. So it kind of surprised me that, this is actually something that could happen. (After thinking about I kind of can see people that had facebook accounts when they were single, keep them going even after they get married).

The Stake President then read this story from the Ensign.

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Tangled in the Web

The point in the end wasn't that Facebook is bad. But that temptation can happen anywhere even in the places that we feel we are safe. Also that we can go overboard with pretty much anything, even spending to much time on the internet. So watch yourself. Thats my Halloween Story.

[Mahone]

There are more inconspicuous dangers to facebook as well. People seem to treat it as they would with e-mails to friends, without considering the fact that facebook is a public website. Even if you set your page to private, there are ways of seeing at least the basic content of it, and sometimes all of it.

Do not say anything on any public website that you would not want your wife, children, bishop or employer to see. Because the chances are, they probably will. There has been a massive increase over the last couple of years of people being fired at work for something they have said online, on a public website.

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

There are more inconspicuous dangers to facebook as well. People seem to treat it as they would with e-mails to friends, without considering the fact that facebook is a public website. Even if you set your page to private, there are ways of seeing at least the basic content of it, and sometimes all of it.

Do not say anything on any public website that you would not want your wife, children, bishop or employer to see. Because the chances are, they probably will. There has been a massive increase over the last couple of years of people being fired at work for something they have said online, on a public website.

Like a year or so ago I got into a big spat in the LDS.net chat room regarding employers looking up myspace and facebook pages. Apparently, looking you up on myspace or facebook is part of the interview process now. I threw a HUGE fit about how wrong that is - and it is wrong - but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. And people have lost jobs or lost opportunities for having pictures of last weekend's shindig on their facebook.

Facebook and myspace are just a couple of examples of ways that we are fooled into living a fake life. Heard it in a CES fireside a while back that internet relationships slowly drive us to undervalue the importance of our bodies and real world relationships - and that's Satan's doing 110%.

____

On the flip side, my YSA ward uses facebook for all sorts of announcements and activities planning and fellowshipping - even home teaching (when in person visits are not possible - like one of my guys who's out of town the whole month). There are a lot of good uses for these programs as well. Just keep your guard up :)

[bytor2112]

My SP and Bishop are on Facebook.

[sixpacktr]

We're slowing moving towards a society where we don't interact personally. First, we emailed, then texted, twittered, facebooked, myspaced, etc., to the point where people have web spouses and have web lives, all built on someone you don't know except by their web name.

And the 15 mins of fame thing that is so prevalent now IS hurting people from getting a job. I know that HR departments will google names and then check out what has or has not been said, or what those people have said, posted, etc., on line.

Satan is letting loose all of the big guns in these last days to deceive the elect and lead them astray. Nothing per se wrong with anything on the internet, but if you do it too much to where it becomes an obsession then maybe you need to 'log off'.

[ferretrunner]

Most of my facebook deals with running and ferrets. But, I do have pictures of my commission up. But, no really private details.

[RachelleDrew]

Jeeze. Your bishop's story sounds terrifyingly like mine. You don't live in rural illinois do you? : D

Yeah, my husband contacted all of his flings on facebook. But chances are, if a spouse wants to stray, they would do it regardless of having internet. The only difference is it might take them a little longer to find said person.

Facebook is very addictive. I check mine a million times a day it seems. I have it on my phone too, with 3g network so I have checked facebook in all sorts of odd places.

I have found however, that it can be amazingly useful in the church for those of us who are in a less-populated LDS area. I've been able to connect with lots of people in my stake and the surrounding stake who I would have not had a lot of contact with otherwise. It's opened up my social life dramatically actually. But for some people it does the exact opposite.

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

I had an idea for a book (or a movie) where people's everyday lives take place entirely on the internet. That's where you work, where you hang out with your friends, where you get married. If you want to have kids you just buy a kit and do it through the mail. Or, with some advances in genetics, you just go through a catalogue online with your "spouse" (in chat, of course) and pick the features you want in your kid (oh I like that nose, but he's gotta have that mouth and those eyes) and then the company (for a fee) splices the genes and makes your baby. They could even raise it for you over a webcam so all you have to do is pay for diapers and watch it's first laugh on instant replay. I'm thinking "GATTACA meets the World Wide Web" on steroids. The really sad thing is - I'm sure somebody's thought of these ideas as legitimate business ventures.

But again, my EQ pres ENCOURAGES us to use facebook for home teaching when other options aren't available. One of my home teachees works for Lockheed and is always gone - from Virginia to Africa - so I don't have much else in ways to reach him.

[georgia2]

Jeeze. Your bishop's story sounds terrifyingly like mine. You don't live in rural illinois do you? : D

Yeah, my husband contacted all of his flings on facebook. But chances are, if a spouse wants to stray, they would do it regardless of having internet. The only difference is it might take them a little longer to find said person.

Facebook is very addictive. I check mine a million times a day it seems. I have it on my phone too, with 3g network so I have checked facebook in all sorts of odd places.

I have found however, that it can be amazingly useful in the church for those of us who are in a less-populated LDS area. I've been able to connect with lots of people in my stake and the surrounding stake who I would have not had a lot of contact with otherwise. It's opened up my social life dramatically actually. But for some people it does the exact opposite.

YEah, it's like anything else today. HArmless if treated right, destructive if not. Think of all the genealogy you could have done in the time you frittered away on Facebook. Yeah, I do have a facebook page. Most of my friends are also members! But we also have a life and don't post each time we go to the bathroom!!!

[AmyKate88]

Facebook is sooo voyeuristic. Too bad I'm just as addicted as everyone else.

[beefche]

I had an idea for a book (or a movie) where people's everyday lives take place entirely on the internet. That's where you work, where you hang out with your friends, where you get married. If you want to have kids you just buy a kit and do it through the mail. Or, with some advances in genetics, you just go through a catalogue online with your "spouse" (in chat, of course) and pick the features you want in your kid (oh I like that nose, but he's gotta have that mouth and those eyes) and then the company (for a fee) splices the genes and makes your baby. They could even raise it for you over a webcam so all you have to do is pay for diapers and watch it's first laugh on instant replay. I'm thinking "GATTACA meets the World Wide Web" on steroids. The really sad thing is - I'm sure somebody's thought of these ideas as legitimate business ventures.

Isn't that called Yoville?

[NeuroTypical]

[SeattleTruthSeeker]

I am actually writing a final project essay on Social Networking and its impact on Mass Media Communication.

Here is what I have found out - and why it is very important to watch what you are posting on social media sites.

Yes, employers now look up your name to see what your "virtual identity" is. So, what do you do? Google your name. See what comes up.

For me, here is what comes up:

The first 8 links, only two are not me. The other six refer to my Associated content page, wordpress blog, and my own personal website page, and helium content page. Each subsequent page after the first have a variety of listings under "Timothy Berman" where some are me, and others are not me (heck did not even know there is a Tim Berman Memorial Stadium").

Now, one does have control over what appears on their Myspace comment page (it helps if you set your comments to approve before posting, this way you can actually view your comments before they are published and highly recommended), and on Facebook, you can delete any offensive information. Even request that your friends do not post anything that may be offensive on your wall.

Also, keep in mind as to what you say on your status updates. It is fine if you write "is home, cooking, had a frustrating day at work, now relaxing and enjoying time with family". Any employer will not hold this against someone. However, if one were to post "just got back from a party, drank till I can't see straight, woke up with some strange woman in my bed, and puking up a storm last night" that is where the problem is. Posting pictures are fine, if they are in good taste. Family pictures, pictures of kids, vacationing, etc. Yet, posting you hugging the toilet and paying your alms to the porcaline king is probably not the wisest thing to do.

[talisyn]

I googled my name, and none of the links were of me, yay! No one at works knows my real name of 'Talisyn' anyways

Facebook is too pretentious, I look at it only when messaging my sisters in Rexburg and Germany. Now if you want addicting try Green Spot on Myspace.

Edit: omgoish I googled 'talisyn' and my stuff popped up a lot. Not only that, but there really are people out there named Talisyn. Yikes!

Edited October 28, 2009 by talisyn

[Generally_Me]

I google my name regularly, last time I did it was a bunch of articles about a basketball player with my maiden name, and then an article from years ago about me giving a graduation speech. I also:

-share my first name with a Hindu god

-share my last name with a British store

-when I dig really deep, I share my maiden name with a porn actress (learned that one by accident on Ebay, actually)

Don't think that my employer will hold that against me

(I hope....)

[wildbean98]

If you don't want people seeing every juicy detail in your facebook then secure it with the privacy settings. Put your friends in two groups, one with people you don't mind seeing everything and one that you want restricted. I use three groups on mine, "friends", "close friends", and "church friends".

I don't mind if close friends and church friends see everything, like my phone number and email, but I don't want my regular friends list to see that stuff. I probably shouldn't have used the word "friends" because it makes things a little confusing so on yours make it named something else, like maybe use two groups named "full" and "partial" or something.

When you add someone new to your facebook, make sure you add them to a list or none of your privacy settings will work right.

Go to your privacy settings. In the privacy page go to profile. Under each section in the drop down there's an entry that says "customize."

In the window that pops up you get some options.

If you don't want everyone on the planet to see that section uncheck "everyone on facebook."

The next part gives you two choices, "only friends" and "friends of friends". I check "only friends" on that one.

Under networks, if you want to block the info drop the menu down and select "none of my networks."

Last, under "except for" type the name of the friends group you want restricted then select it from the options that pop up under it.

Another nice option is to prevent people from posting on your wall. Too many times people have done a wall post instead of a private message and let everyone on the planet see a personal private message. Uncheck the box next to "Friends may post to my Wall" to keep that from happening.

Here's what my main privacy page looks like.

There's three more sections besides profile settings you can adjust too. Under privacy, search, you can prevent the entire planet from finding you on facebook, and when they do find you, you can adjust what they can see. I have my search set to everyone and unchecked my friend list so if someone wants to see my friends I have to actually add them as a friend first.

On the privacy section for news feed and wall I unchecked everything. People don't need to know every single little thing I do on facebook.

Edited October 28, 2009 by wildbean98

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

The really funny thing is - after what I've contributed to this thread... I only spend about an hour on facebook PER MONTH.

[Guest Alana]

I think I'm going to go write a love note to my hubby on facebook. But don't' worry, when he gets home I'll give him a real kiss, too.

[Bini]

Meh. I got rid of myspace a couple years ago. Found no use for it. But I do have a facebook but I keep it private. I only add family and real friends. I don't add coworkers or acquaintances. Oh and I'm hardly ever on my facebook. The last time I logged into it was back in June I think.. Yeh.

[Wingnut]

(After thinking about I kind of can see people that had facebook accounts when they were single, keep them going even after they get married).

I'm not sure why this should be surprising to anyone. Facebook is not a dating service. It was originally set up to be an online yearbook, basically, and was only available to high school and college students. Do you get rid of your high school yearbooks just because you get married? Would you expect anyone to do that? No. Facebook is a vehicle for keeping in touch with people. I understand that it's easy for people to reignite old flame, should they choose to make poor decisions, but it shouldn't be suprising or unexpected that someone would keep their Facebook account active after they marry.

[Maxel]

So, would it be fair to say that facebook is another tool we can use either for ill or for good? (In this context, for the detriment or improving of our work lives)?

The emergent social media has reminded me of the prophecy of old that says all our hidden works would be shouted from the rooftops.

[pam]

FB can be evil if you make it evil. I have found it an excellent way to catch up with old friends and keep in contact with my cousins and other family members.

[Caroline67]

Facebook is bad only if you use it the wrong way.. You can also use it to uplift, reach out, connect and educate people of our beliefs.

[Palerider]

My kids got me on Facebook....I enjoy it. There is temptation everywhere, always be on your guard.

[HiJolly]

My kids got me on Facebook....I enjoy it. There is temptation everywhere, always be on your guard.

Me too.

And I don't know if this is a reason for anyone to change their opinion or not, but a LOT of Mormon Tabernacle Choir members use Facebook.

HiJolly