Facebook is a clever idea, valued in the billions. It is a marketer’s dream. It is a portfolio for popularity.

The most popular, famous, and prosperous social media site is Facebook. It functions as a purposed network of identities, deposited expressions, and interactive media that has a definite place in the day-to-day lives of most teens.
The bland and the sad rarely make the headlines, only the new, beautiful, happy, and upbeat make the cut. There is no ‘hate’ button to click, you can only ‘like’ something.

It’s like being in a play where you make up your own character. You choose how you want to look despite you know for a fact it’s not really your true appearance. I personally know some teenagers who say they are exhausted with the upkeep of their Facebook profiles; one may call it “presentation unease”.
Twenty million teenagers under the age of 18 have Facebook accounts. Of that group, approximately 7.5 million are under the age of 13—the minimum age set both by federal law and Facebook itself. I also found that many of the underage users weren’t being supervised by their parents and that 1 million children had been harassed, threatened, or subjected to other forms of cyber bullying on the site in the past year.
But you can also argue that the site is a useful social tool for teens, allowing them to strengthen their existing friendships, connect with kids with common interests who they might not otherwise meet, and express themselves with newfound creativity. Yes, there’s opportunity for bullying, but that’s not necessarily a product of Facebook or social networking more generally. It’s a fact of teenage life, however unfortunate.
Still, Facebook is taking new steps to protect kids from online cruelty. Earlier this year, the company unveiled a Family Safety Centre on the site and a “social designed to help kids report online harassment to a trusted adult.
In these hard economic times in Guyana and around the world, depression and stress are bothering everyone, but logging on to Facebook one would be convinced that everyone is leading a perfect life. Many teens and to some extent adults spend thousandsof dollars on Facebook [alone] but finds it hard to buy themselves a book or make a donation to a worthy cause. I still cannot comprehend how many teens that still go to school convince their parents to subscribe for expensive internet access because of what, Facebook! I ask a few parents about this; well; the answer, their friends have it, so they too want it [Facebook access], they feel left out when their friends are chatting, updating their profiles. Yet, these same parents complain on how poor their kids are doing in school, how “things” are “hard” with life, things are hard? When you can afford wasteful unlimited internet access particularly paid for social networking and not for homework/research! I am stunned by some of our people’s priority.
How many teens really update a natural photo of themselves? How many teens post the truthful standing of their lifestyle? How many teens know that their information which they think is theirs is not really theirs, but is sold for big dollars unknowingly to them? How many kids find the time to attend their respective place of worship at least once monthly? Most importantly, how many parents/guardian really know the full truth of what their teens are up on Facebook? Answer, Pocket-sized! Parents, spontaneously ask your child to view his/her Facebook profile, etc. You might be astonished. I am fully convinced; Facebook is the new playground! Goodbye to football, cricket, etc.
I give you a few main points on the negative impact which Facebook has created in Guyana. This is based on a small survey done among students.
– Takes too much time which is generally a waste.
– Friend lists are filled with people who are NOT actual friends.
– It damages the real life socialization. I can attest to that!
– People whom you’d rather not talk to find and contacts you.
– Generally not helping relationships because it may cause ridiculous jealousy
Presently 96 percent of students between the ages of 14 to 17 that uses Facebook while studying grades are lower of those who didn’t check Facebook while studying. Yet, the same results might be seen for students who get up every few minutes to grab a snack, watch TV or incessantly pick up the phone to text or call friends while studying.
However, if the student is using Facebook to propel his or her knowledge, for example, by participating in a Facebook group created by a lecturer for students of a particular class, than the social network may have a positive influence on education and spark the student’s interest in learning certain subject matter.
Although teens that frequently use Facebook often show moreegotistical tendencies, for example, they also may be more empathetic than teens that don’t. And although social networking can distract youngsters from studying, it also offers teens and young adults an appealing tool for communication
Preliminary results from two recent surveys involving 3,702 people of all ages suggest that people aged 32 and younger use Facebook as a communication tool, much like texting and phone calls, Ultimately, like with anything, how social media affects students may come down to how it is used and the frequency with which it is used.
To concerned parents, don’t try to secretly monitor or restrain you children’s keystrokes. How long do you think it will take them to find a workaround? After all kids are kids, and as the old saying goes, Guyanese always find a way to get things done.
Instead, talk to them about new technologies, you can learn from your kids, and they will feel reinforced. My advised, used but don’t abuse!