Facebook is an online social networking service, whose name stems from the colloquial name for the book given to students at the start of the academic year by some university administrations in the United States to help students get to know each other. It was founded in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates and fellow Harvard University students Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes.
Misplacing a valuable after a night out at a party happens to all of us. You ransack your homes, purses, cars and pockets, trying to find that precious possession. You even try to exhaust every number in your phone book to find out that no one has seen what you are looking for. Facebook is the answer to many people’s problems when it comes to losing a valuable. As soon as one posts on the wall status stating they lost something, his/her friends read it. They comment on the status and attempt to help find what is missing. You may not be able to find every person you are looking for in your phone book, but you are bound to find them on Facebook. As such, one cannot dispute the reason why umpteen users update their status to find their lost or misplaced valuable.
“Somebody is playing pranks calling on me everyday for the last 3 days playing my favourite Arash song, wonder who?”How many times have we been interrupted, while in a meeting or at the dinner table with family members? Better yet, how many of us have been peskily and non-urgently called? There are millions of people, who are frustrated with the not-so-convenient calls or contact attempts. Many Facebook users wish they could get the message across to everyone that they are not to be reached within certain times. They thus turn to Facebook statuses to relay that message. As most friends read the feeds they receive on the home page, everyone is bound to get the message
A perfect example of people advocating on behalf of a controversial yet political issue was the 2011 Federal Election in Canada. Facebook statuses were flooded with various reasons why a political figure in their riding should win the election. This created an intellectual debate amongst friends, who would agree or disagree with the status. Of the possible 700 friends present on my Facebook, 505 live in Canada. Of the 505, 201 were involved in a political debate and updated their statuses to advocate their political beliefs.
Various games on Facebook, such as CafeWorld, Farmville and Kingdoms of Camelot are addictive. Facebook users are quick to modify their facebook status to notify others of their need to advance in their favourite game. Whether they are building a barn in Farmville, a city in Cityville or a hotel room with excellent accessories in Hotelville, users are prone to be impatient when it comes to waiting for their requests to be accepted. They flood their walls with requests and update their status specifying their missions and needs. They share rewards to boost their requests.
As individuals encounter a loss, they sometimes try to inform others. Facebook status is exercised by various users to update information such as funeral arrangements and death announcements. Furthermore, various users provide ways others could show their condolences and support. As many Facebook users login to facebook once a day, they are prone to read the comment and receive the message.
The worst possible reason to update your facebook status is because you are bored. There have been various times where many Facebook users wrote that they wish it was not raining outside or they are too tired. They write small little things and details that purposely try to catch attention. Furthermore, they hope to start a conversation with another person to pass the time. This reason for updating a Facebook status usually shows a bad impression on the person writing it. Facebook users are advised not to do so as it cries for attention in a negative way.
Many Facebook users utilize their statuses to share good fortune. They wish to celebrate the joy they’ve experienced and to let everyone know. Whether you found a new job or got recently engaged, Facebook status is there to: 1) help you get the proper recognition amongst friends and 2) allow you to be a bit narcissistic. Sometimes you need that attention and would like to scream out what happened to you. This is usually okay as long as you don’t do it repeatedly.
There have been times where Facebook users have not agreed with a specific news story or event and have actively voiced their opinions. Whether a fan favourite was voted off survivor or an excellent actor did not win an award he/she deserved, facebook users utilize their statuses to continuously voice their disgust. They create debates that attempt to bring awareness amongst the populace. People no longer have to individually talk on the phone about what happened. Facebook status provides timeless opportunities to share opinions.
Facebook users flood their statuses with random quotes they read or heard in the news, on the streets , in a book or in their workplaces. These quotes are meaningful to them and are sometimes used to provide incite about different occurrences that are going on in the world. One Facebook user used Socrates’ quote “The more I learn, the more I learn how little I know” to voice his disagreement. They received popular recognition as they provided room for a discourse amongst their 1000+ friends.
You just got dressed, showered and are ready to party. Your car breaks down and you are not able to drive to the location. You scramble to find a ride by calling all those who are going. The cars are full and no one is able to offer you a ride. You turn to your Facebook status to make it clear to others that you are stuck, in need and need to be helped out of a dire situation.
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