Facebook, Darwin, and the Will of God

I was about to sit down and eloquently rant about the role of Facebook and other mass social networking sites in creating social illusions, isolation, and eventual degeneration. Literally minutes before writing, I see an article (on Twitter no doubt) entitled, “Facebook users better off socially, Pew study finds”. This article discusses the findings of a recent study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project. According to the study, avid Facebook users have stronger, real-life support systems and are more likely to be engaged in political and community activities. This goes against all of the anti-Facebook, pro-intimate social networking sentiments that have been aired recently as well as what I have seen and heard personally. In talking straight facts, Facebook has seen a decrease in accounts in the United States and Canada—by the millions! So how does this reality of decreased usage and (assumed) dissatisfaction co-exist with the supposed virtues of increased Facebook usage? Easy. A poll cannot measure the quality of an answer, its level of intensity, nor the authencity thereof.

Here is my humble take on my formerly most cherished site—listen a bit to Charles Darwin.

Now, according to the unspoken rules of my religious camp (to which I am fiercely loyal), I am to never give Darwin credit for anything on this planet. For some, the mention of his name is almost grounds for suspicion as to whether or not spiritual regeneration has truly taken place in one’s life. I mean, how could the sanctified mind ever agree with anything that Darwin suggested, right? That’s for another blog! 

Back to social networking.

Some days, my friend list is like my library—the books are there if I need them, but if not, I am just glad they are there for my enjoyment. Other days, I want to treat it like my closet or attic during spring and fall cleaning. But people are neither books, clothes, or boxes.The survival of the fittest has always stood out to me as a Darwinian notion worth paying attention to. Before Facebook, a person actually had to put forth serious effort to maintain friendships. Buying stamps, paying extra charges for long distance calls, persevering through the tedious process of sending photos as an e-mail attachment, driving hours just to visit—in realities as such, only the strongest relationships maintained a constant presence in one’s life and had a decent chance of surviving and growing. That is not the case today (for the most part). It was almost like God and time and life all teamed to correctly place people in one’s life.

Almost. 

For the most part, Facebook unfortunately places all of your “friends” (my, how that word has changed in a generation!) on the same relational level with equal access to your life. Even the creative brains behind Facebook realized this and developed Facebook groups (of which I have created several and will create more for the purpose of a more natural interaction). Yes, there are options of blocking individuals from your news feed and also the simple messaging, but even these have their limitations and downsides.

To be fair in my critique, Facebook has reconnected me with special and brilliant people, and it is a blessing for those of us who live far from friends and family. Living in another country has certainly made me very dependent on and grateful for Facebook. I have had very meaningful interactions on social networking sites. But as life goes on and my “friends” have exceeded the 1000 mark, I have to ask myself why this feels so unnatural if it is so beneficial. 

Do we have a built-in "people limit" in our lives that we violate by overusing social networking sites?

Blogging and tweeting (I mainly retweet) are in different categories than facebooking (against my better judgment, I use this "verb"). The limits and boundaries are clear and safe. I use blogs for creative expression and Twitter to follow news and inspirational leaders. Their purposes are clearly defined and categorized in my mind, but Facebook is not, and perhaps that is what scares me the most. Then again, no one stuck a gun to my head and made me sign up for Facebook and no one is forcing me to stay. It is ridiculous to blame the lad Zuckerberg for my social woes and concerns.

Perhaps I am the problem. 

Perhaps I have made Facebook something that it is not. 

Perhaps I am projecting my own deficiencies on poor Mark and the gang.

Perhaps I need to choose to be human and stop demanding that a site act like man.

At the end of days, when I have to given an account for my time and talents, will Facebook have been a factor in my “Well done” from the Master? 

Did it add or subtract from my doing the will of God? 

Was I distracted from the voice of God because of the 1004 voices on Facebook? 

Did it positively impact my role as a father and husband? 

Did it keep me on track with the call of God? 

Did I grow? 

Did I sow? 

Did I regularly exhibit the fruit of the Spirit? 

Was my flesh fed?

Is someone's life better because of my presence of Facebook?

How does God feel about how was time is spent? 

What is the return on God’s investment in my life because of Facebook?

These are the questions upon which we should make a personal judgment call about Facebook.

I yet wrestle.