Draft 1 | enc2135

The Information Age, that we are currently living in, has provided people with a number of devices for communication; personal computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. No longer are we an age that can only communicate through pen and paper or a wired telephone. This is a time in which the internet and social media has transformed the world into a level of communication that is instantaneous and highly interactive. The global social media site Facebook was created by Mark Zuckerberg and his friends. “The website mainly aims at connecting people or helps them socialize and makes its revenue out of advertising” (Amirtharajan et al. 2027). This site allows users to create a personal account, publicly post their thoughts and feelings, upload pictures, communicate with other users both privately (through Messenger) and publicly, and can even be solicited by advertisers. This form of social media is terrific for bringing people together but how does all of this interactive communication truly affect users; teenagers, young adults, adults, families, and even those in romantic relationships?

To begin, we must define the Facebook user and account information. Teenagers and young adults, also known as “The Next Generation”, are users ages 25 and younger. This type of user was born into the Information Age and has used all types of media devices for social and educational purposes. Then we have the adult user. This particular user is aged 40 and above and is not as savvy of a user as the younger generations but is motivated to learn and utilize Facebook for its many social features. Of course, family users are a combination of teenagers, young adults, and adults. The last type of user to analyze is the user that is in a romantic relationship. This type of user could also be a teenager, young adult, or adult. Now that we have established these Facebook users, what information do they provide to set up an account? “Facebook, open up new possibilities for presentation of the self and of managing the self that one presents to others” (Hilsen and Helvik 3). Before you can begin connecting with people through Facebook you must establish a new account profile which will be seen by accepted registered users. Facebook allows the user to provide a “profile picture” and has a series of questions to be answered under the “About” tab. These questions include; work and education, places you’ve lived, contact and family info, family and relationships, details about you, and life events. The user may supply any or all of the information to these questions. Remember, Facebook is a social media website that connects people from all over the world. So, the more personal information you provide Facebook the more connections a user can make. Immediately, however, a user is in control of the image that is being portrayed and this is when the affects of Facebook begins.

Communication through Facebook begins with a profile and often a profile picture because it is always better when you can place a face (picture) with a person. But, what picture should be posted? Believe it or not, there are ways to airbrush pictures online for free. If you are a 16-year old teenager, “you can upload your picture and you can take out all your little pimples and stuff to make it look like your skin is perfect, your hair is perfect” (Shea). What if you are a 40-year old woman? Selecting a photo that will be seen by high school classmates that have not seen you in 25 years can be stressful. Alright, you have selected a photo and now you are anxious to start sending and accepting “friend” requests. At first, the excitement can encourage a user to “friend” anyone they know. In some cases, a person can think of it as a popularity contest. “Our circles have grown to include everyone from best buddies to co-workers, to kindergarten classmates and friends of friends of friends, to strangers” (Shea). Users are aware of the number of “friends” they have just by logging into their profile. But, how much personal information does a user want someone to have access too? This question is answered differently by user. The teenager and young adult utilizes Facebook “to communicate and coordinate everyday activities with friends they also met regularly. Facebook was used for making appointments, inviting to parties, telling about concerts or other events to which they wanted their friends to come” (Hilsen and Helvik 4). Whereas the adult user, utilizes Facebook in a more conservative fashion and chooses to be more guarded with personal information. Which leads into, how does a user decide upon what information to share or what type of image does the user want to display? Remember, Facebook gives the “ability to make public comments about other users…by commenting on a posted status, picture, or link, or by writing directly on a friend’s wall” (Ballantine, Lin, and Veer 50).