Andrew Cox

Introduction- The purpose of my research was to determine how much Facebook affects our everyday lives.  Our group of seven individuals divided our research on the grounds of covering all of the possible scenarios that Facebook can create in life. The first group deleted their Facebook accounts for good. The second group/control group kept their Facebooks. The final group deactivated their Facebooks for at least one week. Through out the course of the week, each individual was required to log their thoughts about the day that were relevant to facebook and their lives. I was part of the deactivation group along with Robert Garcia and Alaina Murphy.

Log 1.

I deactivated my Facebook account to day and immediately I wanted to post about how I couldn’t go online for a week. Right away I found myself constantly thinking about facebook and what I was possibly missing out on because I wasn’t allowed to go online. Facebook also acts as a sort of Internet refresh on my computer. Whenever I am done being on craigslist, or doing homework I would always log onto my facebook account before I got off the internet. This was a shock to me, and even caused some legitimate anxiety for myself. I hope the next few days are better than the first.

Log 2.

            It has now been three days without facebook and I feel much better. Although I am still stressing out about how I want to stay connected, I am much more care free about life. I still have urges to post about the most random things that I wouldn’t even post if I could use Facebook. On a much more positive note I am realizing that I am now only connecting with the people that matter most to me in life. Because I cant use facebook, it has forced myself to contact friends and family by texting or calling which feels much more personal. This has been a positive factor on my mental health because I am spending time with the people that I like the best, in other words my best friends. That has been great.

Log 3.

            It has been 5 days since deactivation and I am feeling better. My life is improving everyday. This is a very convenient experiment because it is taking place during finals week. This means that I have lost the very thing that allows me to procrastinate the most in life. I am being much more productive in my school work and I am still spending time with the people that matter most.

Log 4.

            I reactivated my facebook one day, or actually a few hours early because I just had the craving to go online. I am legitimately embarrassed by this and do not really want to talk about it. I am writing this a few days after this event, and looking back on it I think that I could continue on past the deadline to deactivate Facebook.

Conclusions/ Analysis

I would like to start off the conclusion to this project by acknowledging the fact that taking a step back and looking at a possible over use of Facebook is really important to check on every once in a while. I would not have other wise ever thought to deactivate my facebook if it were up to myself. Just like most of the members of this group I came to realize that Facebook is like an emotional drug. We use it as a stress reliever and binge to make ourselves seem like we are connected socially. The beginning of the process was very difficult, but it got easier to deal with reality each day.

The biggest break through of this project was that I was able to really break down what Facebook is actually useful for, and what aspects of Facebook make it an unhealthy site for students in college. Facebook is by far a useful site for sharing memories, pictures, and information about events. This allows for specific communities to become stronger and better connected eternally. On the other hand Facebook gives users the sense that they can check up on anyone of your friends. This can become very unhealthy, and can potentially turn into an addiction. Facebook also is a powerhouse for sharing information about your self. Although it mostly is information that doesn’t affect you, it is still based on the pricipal that your information should be private to the online world.

Deactivating my facebook was certainly something that needed to be done. I was border-line addicted and I needed my supply cut off from me. I noticed that in the long run I became more productive and I also got to spend time and develop real relationships that were most important. I will forever think of facebook use differently, and I do not use it nearly as much as I used too.