Facebook Fever

Facebook has been widely recognized as a major player in the domain of mainstream technological time-eaters. Though sites such as YouTube, MySpace, and CollegeHumor all boast impressive time-gobbling capacities, Facebook was recently awarded the distinction of “most popular site among college students” by BizReport. This could stem, in part, from the tendency of many students to stay logged in for long periods of time, just in case something interesting happens. For most, the Facebook habit is manageable and minimally disruptive. However, in some cases, this constant need to stay connected could lead to dependence, siphoning valuable time that would ordinarily be devoted to schoolwork or even real-world socializing.

According to Caplan, problematic internet use is distinguished by two factors: excessive use and compulsive use. When an internet user spends copious amounts of time on an online activity despite intentions to limit usage, their behavior is demonstrative of problematic internet use (PIU). Many college students probably experience a compulsion to log onto Facebook, knowing that their time would be better spent studying. Caplan has also identified a typical chain reaction associated with PIU. When someone experiences psychosocial problems such as depression or loneliness, they often hold negative impressions of their social competence. This can lead to a preference for internet interactions, which seem more efficacious and less threatening. This internet preference can then take a toll on their already-suffering real-world social interactions. Caplan has attributed the lure of the internet to its capacity to offer greater anonymity, greater control over self-presentation, more intense and intimate self-disclosure, less perceived social risk, and less social responsibility.

While the domino effect outlined by Caplan applies to many instances of PIU, Facebook-mania may be an exception. It seems that depression and loneliness are not prerequisites for developing a problematic affinity for Facebook. In fact, people who are well-connected in the real world are often also well-connected on Facebook. Having a large number of Facebook friends could serve as an impetus for spending extensive time on the site in order to virtually keep in touch with all of these contacts, whether passively (i.e. browsing their profile) or actively (i.e. writing on their wall). In this case, highly socially competent individuals could be at greater risk than those who view themselves as socially inept. While a preference for Facebook may be amplified by its ability to provide efficiency in a non-threatening atmosphere, these two factors are also not necessarily the primary catalysts triggering a Facebook obsession. This may be partly because the factors leading to an internet preference, as described by Caplan, do not all hold true for this unique social networking site. Facebook seems to offer degrees of anonymity, perceived social risk, and social responsibility that are equivalent to those experienced in the real world, since most students use the site primarily to communicate with people they already know outside of cyberspace. However, Facebook does seem to offer greater control over self-presentation and, sometimes, more intense and intimate self-disclosure. When combined with Facebook’s capacity to function as an entertainment center (via applications), soap box, and social network management tool, these factors inspire heightened attachment to the site and have helped to put Facebook on the PIU map.