Since Facebook was created in 2004, millions of people have signed up with the social network, making it one of the most popular internet sites in history. In the beginning, it seemed like such a wonderful invention as people who had not had a way of contacting or finding one another, now had an avenue to reconnect with family, old friends, and classmates from high school. However, in years past, the question of whether Facebook has been a blessing or a curse for our society has been brought to the table, and there is no easy answer to that question. It is still a great instrument to bring people together that have not been able to communicate in years, and it is also a great way to advertise your business ventures, but as with every new invention, there will always be a dark side and it seems that Facebook is no exception. In fact, Facebook is being accused of a number of divorces and extramarital affairs due to the accessibility of old loves that have been found and rekindled through the device.
The only way to analyze this in an honest way, is to admit that although Facebook does allow you the opportunity to reconnect with old lovers from the past and does invite a certain amount of temptation in this area, it would be unfair to place the blame on Facebook for the poor choices that someone has decided to make. Although the opportunity is there, it is ultimately the choice of the user whether or not to give into or resist that temptation. If you are married or in a long term, committed relationship, you always have a moment of choice, and it is not the fault of the device if you decide to indulge in a reconnection with a past love, that you know in your heart could lead to temptations or actual affairs. This is one of those situations in life in which if you play with fire, you are going to be burned. The best thing to do is to decline any friend request that you receive from anyone in which you were once romantically involved, and then you have nothing to worry about and all will be well. If you do decide to reconnect with an old flame and it leads to an affair, you may need to reevaluate your current relationship. Although people who are in happy marriages do occasionally make mistakes and have affairs, seeking out an affair or attention from another man can sometimes be a sign that something is missing from your current relationship.
This issue has become such a growing problem, that there has been a great amount of jealousy and mistrust between couples, even if neither party has done anything wrong or have even considered it. That is why many married people who keep Facebook accounts have begun to have joint accounts in which they both use and have constant access to. This eliminates any of these problems, and creates a feeling of security where Facebook is concerned. It is a great idea for couples who have had problems in the past, or have issues with jealousy or insecurity in their relationship.
Another issue that may become a problem with Facebook is the amount of time one may spend on the website. In many ways it can become an addiction, and it can also give you a false sense of reality, especially when you begin to have more virtual friendships than real friends that you actually spend time with in person. Although there is nothing wrong with the friendships that you have on the website, it is also important that you keep up your friendships that you connect with in real life.
The only other problem that I can see with Facebook is the amount of personal information that most people type in their posts. It is surprising to me what some people will write for all their friends to see. You need to remember that it is not a good thing to tell your personal secrets to all your Facebook friends. Personal conversations belong in your messaging boxes with only your closest friends that you can trust. Also, never post when you are angry, because most of the time, you will end up saying things that you will later regret.
Facebook can be harmless fun if used correctly and with boundaries, and it is ultimately up to the user if this invention is good or evil. It is a fantastic way to keep up with family and friends, especially if they live out of state, and it is a fun way to reconnect with friends that you have not seen in years. However, you must remember that like everything else in life, there are boundaries and evils to watch out for. As for blaming Facebook for affairs; It may be the instrument in which the affairs begin, but it is a cop out to blame a website for a bad decision that a human being makes. It is time to take responsibility for our bad choices in life. Live honestly, make careful decisions, and you will never have to look over your shoulder. Living honestly is living free at one’s best.
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