Denise Nicole APELC-P1 Causal Analysis Essay The Facebook Generation The fast-paced advancement of technology has escalated

in the past decade faster than it has in the last fifty years. From the creation of the first computer and the versatile accessibility of the Internet, this advancement has deeply affected our society with the means of globalization, involvement and even diffusion of cultural influences. The Internets power to create a selfidentity or individualism has flourished greatly by the use of social media networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Indeed, Social Media sites have been the ultimate trend of the decade. Facebook for instance has gained over 800 million users since its establishment in 2004. A once innovative idea by thenHarvard undergraduate Mark Zuckerberg as a virtual community for Harvard undergraduates, Facebook has made its way to the ultimate core of mainstream culture. However, along with any other innovative inventions comes a backfiring consequence. Our generations involvement with social networking has caused and increased controversial issues such as cultural chauvinism and discrimination, breach in personal privacy and the misuse of social networking sites for false publicity. Social Networks play in cultural chauvinism and discrimination is the most controversial factor in the advancement of this technology. With the viral nature of social media sites, it is easy to offend with just a few clicks of a button. This, along with media players such as Youtube, has captivated moments in contemporary history where social faux pas of discrimination and other forms of cultural chauvinism has been portrayed. Videos such Rick Perrys Anti-LGBT

campaign (2011) for example has become disturbingly viral for his tactless comment on a sensitive issue of the implementation of the Dont Ask, Dont Tell (Wikipedia, 2011) policy as well as other controversial slurs. With the use of the Internet, news from any corner of the word and such taboos are easily spread from one nation to another, receiving numerous responds and criticism within minutes. Along with this and considering the number of active members in social media sites, our tactless actions are converted virtually for the whole world to see, leaving a trace of raging comments as well as a broken reputation to a higher degree of the masses. Another factor that affects our generation with the influence of social media networking is the breach in privacy. Although the denial and acceptance of friend requests or followers is possible for most social sites, not all active users make the wise decision of controlling whom to interact with. With media sites sporting applications that can share our exact locations to the public, this also has sparked controversy on who is held liable for the breach of privacy. The sharing of pictures as well as other personal information via the Internet has raised concerns by its accessibility to the public with words such as Facebook stalkers making its way to urban dictionary. Indeed, accessing of personal information has become easier with the aids of this sites and along with the escalating popularity of social media networking comes the rise of identity theft and potential exploitation. Lastly, it has been evident that social media sites have been the niches for individualism. In this century, our personal lives have captivated some form of virtual identity, which seem to be a big influence on popular culture. Before the era of Twitter and Facebook, artists and other members of the society who have

established their own profiles have to contribute for their recognition. Fame was limited to those exposed to media via films and publication which gave the essence of importance to fame. Nowadays, fame is easily achieved with the aid of social networking. Viral trends such as Rebecca Blacks Friday video (2010), Justin Bieber and other ridiculous videos posted on Youtube as well a Facebook and Twitter sparked increasingly. The essence of creativity has been lost, and what used to be the luxury of fame and achievement has decreased its quintessence, as it is now easier to achieve with just a few clicks of a button. Exposure to the world has never been easier, but it gives injustice to those who deserve to be credited for their real craft. These kinds of viral sensations are not only demeaning the artistry but also getting exposed for the most imbecilic ways. The role of social media networking has affected our generation greatly for the past decade. Social medias have served as virtual communities for us, our own digital niche. But this fast-growing form of technology has consumed our routines; interaction as well as behavior to a whole new different level and have decreased the value of personal contact, relationships as well as our culture in whole.