Status Update: Theological Blogger...is writing a blog entry

I have decided to steer in a new direction a little aside from theology and religion for a moment. (Indulge me a little, if you will). I am doing so in order to placate an anti-Facebook friend of mine.

I recently read a superb article about Facebook which claims that the author has chosen real life in favour of status updates. What a brilliant statement.

I myself am a Facebook user. I talk to people on it, send messages, play the odd game when I'm quite bored, and have a little chuckle at some goofy photographs of friends.

But Facebook can, if one is not careful, become a breeding ground for insecurity, conflict and invasion of privacy. The reality of Facebook is presented rather humorously by a superb sketch portraying "Facebook in real life", which can be found here.

Humorous though it may be, it does present some harsh facts. A simple minute action such as accepting someone as a friend is actually doing far more; it is opening up one's entire world in exposure for all to see: every embarrassing photo, every little secret that may accidentally come out when somebody posts on your wall (a bizarre concept, when all is considered - rather like having a phone conversation then publishing the transcript online), etc.

And of course, the objector will argue that one "enters at their own risk" when they sign up for the site. But if one innocently joins a site for social networking purposes, it may take them a while to become familiar enough to realise that unless they specifically choose a privacy option, every Facebook user across the globe can access their information. And once one has joined, are people aware that even though the "profile" may be closed, Facebook takes the liberty of holding on to the user's information. For what purpose, one is entitled to ask?

And two of the worst consequences of a site like Facebook are the opportunity for the two bs: bullying and boosting of ego. Now of course with any technology there is the possibility of bullying - but with text messaging and email what is presented is simply a contact link. Facebook on the other hand, invites public messages, commenting on photographs, and even the creation of groups about people. Of course, one can complain to the Facebook admin team, but they rarely seem to feel that groups designed to bully people are severe enough to be removed. One wonders what is, in which case.

And of course, the old chestnut of ego-boosting. Status Update: X has...just got 50 A*s in my GCSES!!!!!!!! Wall-post: Hey man, was really great last night. Can't believe I pulled! Or the even bigger opportunities presented by applications such as "Going to Uni", on which you chart every stage of your UCAS application - with no evidence required. Not only must this be heartwrenching for someone who has just been rejected from their ideal university, but it opens up the opportunity for complete morons to record their "successful offers" from the "University of Cambridge" - and the naive souls who've just added them on Facebook, having only met them once or having last seen them when they were about 10, congratulating them on their "place".

There are many more things I could say about Facebook. I speak, naturally, as a Facebook user. Pot-kettle? Perhaps. But I am not trying to say that no-one should join the site, neither am I suggesting that current users should depart. What I am saying, however, is that Facebook is a social networking site which ought to be used for that purpose: contacting long-lost friends, speaking to those whom one hasn't had the chance to catch up with for a while, and, yes, posting photos for your friendship group to have a look at. But the day one begins to validate themselves with egotistical status updates, fallacious information and deceptive wall posts, or trying to lower the self-esteem of others through similar means, they have in my opinion abused the facilities of Facebook and contributed to the continuous besmirching of its reputation.