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I think it is pretty safe to say that most teens today have a Facebook account. I think it is safe to also say that many of those teens are on Facebook way too much. Some people act as if the mouse (or even their cell phone) is permanently attached to their hands.

Now, I don’t think there is anything wrong with having an account, in fact I think Facebook is a rather brilliant invention. It’s just that most people use it so often and make poor decisions with it that it becomes, in a way, unhealthy. If used properly, Facebook can be a very helpful communication tool, however if abused, it may yield terrible consequences.

I asked some people at my school how many times a day they get on their Facebook accounts. Some said that they would only check their account once a day if even at all. Some people said that they would only log on a couple times a day, which is fairly reasonable. But then I came across those who are virtually always logged on to Facebook.

One classmate answered that he can log on anywhere from seven to fifteen times a day. Another said that he is on Facebook too many times a day to count. So I asked him why he feels the need to check Facebook so many times. He responded simply, “Because it’s on my phone.” I think it is slightly ridiculous that people are so dependent on Facebook that they need to be able to have it in their pocket wherever they go, as though they couldn’t survive the day without logging on.

For high school students, Facebook is a dependable way to escape from tedious work. I would bet that the already huge number of hours spent on Facebook probably doubles when a huge report is assigned. I can’t count the number of times I have heard people talking about how they didn’t do their homework because they were on Facebook too long.

A perfect example of this are the groups people come up with. There are several groups entitled something along the lines of “I was doing homework, but somehow ended up on Facebook.”

This just shows how lazy people can get. What’s even more absurd is the number of people willing to publicly announce their laziness by joining these groups. On the subject of being lazy, it really just amazes me how so many people waste away their entire day in front of the computer screen. Instead of going out and enjoying the day, actually socializing with their friends, or actually doing something a little productive, some people will actually sit around doing pointless activities on Facebook for hours on end, which truly boggles my mind.

I’ll admit, I have been bored at times and have tried to use Facebook as a remedy for said boredom. But even if I tried with every fiber of my being to stay logged on as long as I could, I probably wouldn’t make it more than five minutes. Honestly I can’t comprehend how some people
pull it off.

I’m not trying to say that Facebook is evil. In reality, Facebook is a very convenient way to keep in touch with people. It may even be one of the most reliable ways to communicate. Facebook even has a “friend finder” that can reconnect old friends.

The problem, however, is that some people aren’t quite as careful online as they should be. There are some people who are very smart with what they post on their profiles. They set the safety features correctly, monitor the friends they add, and don’t reveal any personal information. There are those, unfortunately, who don’t pay any attention. They post everything they are doing, wherever they are going, any possible way to contact them, and post numerous compromising pictures of themselves.

I don’t think I even need to mention what could happen if this information were to fall into the wrong hands. If not watched closely, Facebook can turn into a dangerous environment for teens. In addition, many employers now are consulting Facebook profiles as references for those seeking a job, so it’s really important to keep the pages clean.

Facebook would be a great device for keeping in touch with what is going on in the world if it weren’t so widely misused. Some teens log on so much that they often forget that there are better things to do to pass time. Facebook should really only be used for pleasant, brief conversations among friends,
and it is unwise to use it any other way.

About the author: Sheldon Howard

Sheldon was born in Hastings and has lived here his entire life. As a teenager and a senior at Hastings High School, he is always interested in finding new and fun things to do around town. Sheldon enjoys spending time with his friends and family, and just being an average teenager. He enjoys going to school and learning new things. Sheldon is a member of the Hastings High marching band and makes music an important part of his life. He likes playing saxophone and piano as well as attending concerts and other performances. Some other interests include theater, astronomy, science, and nature.