“After seeing ‘My Own Private Idaho,’ I wanted to be a male prostitute. I’m a strong atheist. When I was nine, I punched my best friend in the nose at lunch.” (ABC News)
The latest Internet craze has millions sharing their innermost secrets. If you’re Facebook savvy, odds are you’ve already been tagged to do 25 Random Things. But is it innocent fun or a constant irritation?
Hello I’m Charlotte Bellis and you’re watching Newsy.com
We’re following this Facebook phenomenon with perspectives from ABC News, The New York Times, Time magazine, The Huffington Post, and others.
ABC News gives us the overview…
“It’s called 25 Random Things about me. A virtual version of the old-fashioned chain letter and here’s how it works. A friend tags you and asks you to write 25 facts or supposed facts about yourself and then you in turn tag 25 of your friend and so on. And listen to this: an estimated 5 million notes have been posted this week.” (ABC News)
The New York Times writes that while 25 random things might hog our free time, it could also spark our creativity.
“As with anything on the Internet, why this particular distraction has suddenly become a phenomenon is anyone’s guess. For most, it seems to be a creative way to indulge in social networking without coming off as needy or shamelessly self-absorbed…”
(The New York Times)
Time magazine is less flattering, calling the fad neither cute nor informative.
“…But it's just so stupid. Most people aren't funny, they aren't insightful, and they share way too much… I don't care that my college roommate's sister is anemic or that my stepcousin's boyfriend gets nervous around old people…” (TIME)
The trend has even spread beyond Facebook – this week thousands uploaded videos of their list on Youtube.
“Whenever I lace my shoes, I always be sure to lace my right foot with white laces.”
“I have 20/10 vision, which means that what I can see at 10 feet what most people can see at 20, which is a pretty cool gift to have, except for that I’m 80 percent color blind. (YouTube)
The Huffington Post defends the notes, writing that critics should lighten up.
“It would seem to me that the most narcissistic people aren't those who wrote the lists, but those who damned them.” (Huffington Post)
A Dallas Morning News blog questions if social networking sites make us more honest by forcing us to be candid with our friends.
“The days of segmenting our friends and telling them white lies are over… You can no longer lie about why you couldn't make it to Cousin Sal's wedding so as not to hurt his feelings while saving your long-planned trip.” (Dallas Morning News)
Is the list a dreadful waste of time, or a way to get to know more about your friends? Have you posted a note of your own? What was the most random thing you posted? Please share your thoughts with us and check out our sources.
Links:
HYPERLINK "http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=11920650" http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=11920650
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=515576957527" http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=515576957527
HYPERLINK "http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1877187,00.html" http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1877187,00.html
HYPERLINK "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-devin/in-defense-of-facebooks-h_b_164538.html" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-devin/in-defense-of-facebooks-h_b_164538.html
HYPERLINK "http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/02/does-facebook-make-us-more-hon.html" http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/02/does-facebook-make-us-more-hon.html
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