Proposal | enc2135

Intended message: Facebook,a social networking site that was developed to bring people together, can cause users to experience low self-esteem, envy,and jealousy. As users view this continuous stream of photos and updates they are in a state of comparison which can make a user feel dissatisfied with their life, lonely, angry, and/or depressed.

Audiences: "Net Generation" ages 13-25

High School students ages 15-18

College Students 18-25

Genres: "Net Generation" ages 13 to 25 years old: I chose this age group because this type of user was born into the Information Age and most have a Facebook account. I believe that a poster displaying an example of Facebook envy would be informative and relatable. This poster would represent a Facebook post, which would include an uploaded travel photo, "Friends" comments, and "likes". The "Friends comments" would be the focal point of this example. My goal is to have this audience focus on the words and feel empathy towards others. I would like for the user to recognize that these comments are not compliments they are words expressing envy, jealousy, and sadness which are not positive emotions. Hopefully this example will increase awareness and help this audience identify potential problems.

High School students ages 15-18: I selected this age group because this type of user is becoming more mature as they progress in researching and writing. I believe that a magazine cover would be an eye catching and attention grabbing way of displaying the harmful effects Facebook has on their age group. I would imagine that a magazine cover, with relatable quotes and graphics, about Facebook would interest this audience. Unfortunately, many have probably, at some point during their time on Facebook, felt any one of these particular feelings. My hope is that high school students can identify with this magazine cover and realize that these harmful effects are more common than they think.

College students ages 18-25: I selected this age group because this type of audience continues to enhance their writing skills through required college English courses. In college, students are assigned writing assignments that are introspective. I chose to express the harmful effects of Facebook (low self-esteem, envy and jealousy) through a poem. I feel that a college student would appreciate the poetic story of a person's journey from a place of sadness, anger, and jealousy to the realization of self worth.