After reading Zadie Smith’s, what seems to me,
attack on everything Facebook I was very intrigued by one point she makes. “Shouldn’t
we struggle against Facebook?”[1] is
a question she poses near the end of the article. Explaining how we are trapped in the world and
mind of its creator Zuckerberg, mindlessly shifting our lives towards a virtual
one by the hands of the puppet master. She
continues, “Yet what kind of living is this? Step back from your Facebook wall
for a moment: Doesn’t it, suddenly, look a little ridiculous? Your life in this format?”[2]
obviously I take a step back and consider it. However, what I find is not in
concurrence with what Smith is saying; quite the contrary actually.
I believe Facebook does connect people in a fun,
interesting, and self-gratifying way, yes, but more than just so. For those out
there with less charismatic traits or cunning linguistic skills in person, I feel
Facebook has created sort of an ice-breaker in the area of social interaction. Though
perhaps face-to-face interaction has suffered somewhat as an effect of that, I would
argue that Facebook is not solely to blame. As Smith argues her point of ways to
reach out to people a far can happen by using other platforms such as e-mail
and Skype,[3] I argue
they are just as much to blame for our lives transcending into a virtual world
as Facebook is. Also I would counter by saying, Facebook is more fun.
I could care less about a film such as The Social Network in the way they
portray Zuckerberg, accurately or inaccurately. If I wanted a more accurate
picture of the man and what he has accomplished I would use the greatness of
the internet. Be that as it may, I must say, that I am thoroughly impressed of
how big Facebook is. The way in which a 19 year old was able to create such a
massive online world, sustain it, and keep growing through entrepreneurial
ventures (ex. WhatsApp); is truly an awe inspiring feat, worthy of all possible
praise.
[1] Zadie Smith, Generation Why?, The New York Re, http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/nov/25/generation-why/?pagination=false,
Online.
[2] Zadie
Smith
[3] Zadie
Smith
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