Social networks - My–Face–Space–Book?
Aren't they just websites? Not so, according to Imogen Wegman.
I remember getting the internet. It was amazing.
My brother showed me how to use a search engine, and my first internet search was for the magazine Disney Adventures.
Whether we found anything, I can't remember, but I imagine my astonishment may have rivalled that of a child discovering that there aren't actually little people in the television, but it works 'some other way'.
Over some of my most formative years, having the internet at home was considered a luxury, and time spent online was carefully rationed. Schools with internet were a rarity, some lucky just to have computers running Windows 3.1.
Gradually this changed, it became cheaper, more schools and homes got it, and students suddenly had to learn to reference internet sources. But it was still dialup, and was still a luxury.
Suddenly people started to get an amazing thing called 'broadband'. They could be on the phone AND the internet simultaneously. There was no need to wait for the modem to dial, communicate and connect, it was instantaneous.
As I write this, I have my email open, Wikipedia telling me about The Internet, Telstra telling me how big my phone bill is, and Facebook telling the world about me.
I could have MySpace open too, but I side with Facebook in this argument.
'Argument?' I hear you say. 'What argument, they're just websites, as though you would argue about that!'
And as deserved as your incredulity is, they are now so much more than 'just websites'. There are many opportunities to express your personality on the internet, through games, chatboards, blogs and videos, but none seem to cause as many arguments as Facebook and MySpace.
These two sites are known as 'networking sites'-their whole purpose is to allow you to create an internet personality and then make friends with lots of other people, and keep in contact with everyone you've ever known.
The argument arises when people say they are on Facebook OR MySpace. Admitting to preferring one will immediately provoke an argument about why the other is better.
It's silly, but true. It's said that MySpace is for 12-16 year olds, and Facebook for those older than that.
The two sites have subtly different purposes, yet so much energy can be put into a Facebook vs MySpace argument, and so much time wasted.
'How ridiculous! Kids these days just have too much time!' you think, but I would like you to think about what silly things you've been divided over.
Hhmm...Perhaps spaghetti vs spirals, Windows vs Macintosh or umbrellas vs raincoats?
How is God reflected in those arguments? Is the outcome (which is likely to be just an uneasy truce) going to bring glory to Him, and show that to your opponent?
If the answer's 'No', hold back, and bite your tongue. I know I will certainly try...next time someone tells me they've only got MySpace.
Imogen Wegman is Youth Worker at Wellspring Anglican Church, Sandy Bay.