Facebook Groups. What’s the Point?
22nd September 2009
I’m a great advocate of free speech and am a big fan of any platform such as a the Internet or a particular website that facilitates it, but come on! Facebook groups?
For the uninitiated, Facebook – the number one social networking site with over 260 million account holders worldwide; gives anyone the ability who has an account, the option to create a “group” dedicated to a particular cause, subject, belief or activity.
Think of “Groups” as a bit like mini-websites within the confines of the Facebook community. Once set-up, people can be invited to join them and contribute by posting comments, exchanging messages with other members or by the uploading of photos and videos all of which can be shared with their fellow groupies.
The idea looks good on paper and to be honest ‘Groups’ are an ideal and low cost way, in which real-world interest groups can have a web presence that brings other people of like-mind together in one virtual place.
To this end I can see the benefits; after all what better way for a group of Village Bell Ringers in Massachusetts to share links and pics of their hobby amongst each other, than with a Facebook Group?
Each to their own I suppose!
Pointless
However what gets my goat is the hundreds of Groups on Facebook that are dedicated to pointless subjects and causes. For example the one entitled “I skin twigs and sticks and split blades of grass for no reason” which boasts 38 members and the popular Nose Pickers Group which has the best part of 100 members, make me wonder.
What’s the point? Particularly when I get sent invitations by my “friends” to join these things for no other reason that it’s something to do. By joining them do I instantly subscribe to their point of view? By not joining them, does it mean I’m not a “team player” or don’t share their views? After all I can’t remember the last time I split a blade of grass, well not without reason anyway! Hairs, now that’s a different matter…
Seriously Though…
On a more serious note, there’s many a Facebook Group set-uo for the more valuable subjects in life such as those dedicated to various charity concerns, through to missing persons and children and those campaigning against the evils of incest. Heavy stuff!
I suppose by setting up these groups, these organisations are exploring another channel that helps them raise awareness of their cause. However by me joining a group dedicated to wiping out incest or rape (for example), as I have been invited to do recently; does that bring the eradication of these heinous crimes any closer? I think not!
Conversely, does my choice to ignore my “friends’” invitations to such groups condemn me in their eyes, as an advocate of the people who commit these acts?
Perhaps you’re thinking I’m taking it all too literally and people don’t consider my allegiance, or rather the lack of it; to these life affirming groups, too seriously! I’m sureI’m not alone in this. Well if that’s the case, what’s the point of setting them up in the first place?
As I say, what’s the point of Facebook Groups, if no one takes them seriously?
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Tags: Social Networking
