Is Facebook Controlling Your Life?

Symbol of the popular media
Site Facebook

Social media sites such as Facebook and Myspace are popular sites that are gaining a great deal of attention.  Facebook especially is becoming quite popular not only in the United States but on the Earth.  A recent statistics claims that "Facebook is being used by 1 in 13 people on Earth."  

Another interesting statistic is there are over 500 million Facebook accounts in 2011 with 250 million people logging on everyday.  


After a recent survey the site mashables found out that "The average U.S. user spent a whopping seven hours and 46 minutes on Facebook   in  August." 


With all of this attention that Facebook is getting is it really positive.  Do you ever monitor how much time you actually spend on Facebook?  Its startling how time can fly by when your on one of these sites.  


Seven hours and 46 minutes in one month, multiply that by twelve and that's ninety-six hours in a whole year.  
This doesn't even account for those who enjoy being on Facebook more then others.

A popular Facebook game with
approximately 63370436 users

These sites lure you in by allowing you by providing a great deal of activities.  These sites allow you to do anything from chatting to those close to you to playing online games with  strangers.  Its easy to get lost within any of these activities.


Is the time you invest with social media sites worth it?  Wouldn't you rather spend your time by doing more constructive activities that actually add value to your life?  Exercising for example can provide more benefits then going on Facebook.  Imagine spending an extra seven hours and 46 minutes working out.  


Another possibility for students is improving your grades.  Its obvious that children have more fun going on Facebook then doing homework but that extra seven hours and 46 minutes could be the difference from the grade of a C to a B or a B to a A, etc.  


Don't get me wrong I'm not completely against the idea of social media sites because I believe they provide some benefits.  They allow you to keep in contact with those difficult to reach, its a cheap alternative to calling and its easy to use.  The point I'm trying to get is to use Facebook in moderation which allows you to still reap the benefits.  


By: Dennis Wolf