The Social Networking Double Standard

Time is a mystifying force. It can be as simple as the numbers displayed on your watch, or it can be a complex scientific concept that can boggle your mind. Regardless, one thing is certain about time, none of us can escape it, and no matter what you’re doing or where you are, time is always ticking.

For something so omniscient, it’s interesting at how unexplainable and easy it is when we lose track of it.

A not-so-scientific saying exists that states time flies by when you’re having fun. Gaming and social networking adds new dimensions to this saying.

If you’re a student, or anyone to be honest, then you probably understand the value of time. Generally speaking, lost or mismanaged time leads to a suffering of grades or performance at work, and there are many distractions that people love to target as a reason for soaking up valuable time.

Including games.

Unfortunately, many have scapegoated gaming as a “waste of time,” and the overall image of gaming in the public eye has been horrible to say the least. The media has connected games to drugs, sex, and violence, and if you listen to these sources, then you’re also likely to believe that Satan, Hitler’s ghost, and Eddie Murphy may be involved as well.

And while the media is unafraid to point out extreme minorities, they do a great job of omitting the mindset of most gamers, which is to simply have fun.

The exact opposite applies to social networking sites, such as Facebook, which can waste as much time as games. In fact, the public has embraced and even sensationalized these sites (anyone remember Obama’s inaugural address on Facebook and CNN?). Every major news station, every major company, many celebrities, and many average people have affiliations with these sites.

And when used correctly, Facebook, Myspace (people still use this?), and Twitter can be great tools to actually help people network and help companies keep their followers updated and well informed.

However, in most cases, these networking sites are as much of a time sink as video games.

Many (probably most) people use (or abuse) these sites to make themselves feel self-important. After all, everyone wants to feel they have some value in the world. Twitter feeds, Facebook updates, and MySpace updates are often used as an outlet for narcissistic messages that shout out “Look at me! I want attention!”

Consequently, this leaves people constantly checking back for the next notification or message, and If they’re not on for these reasons, then they’re likely browsing random profiles and photo albums.

I’ve seen it all too many times with my “Facebook friends,” “Oh crap finals tomorrow, why am I on Facebook?” Clearly they’re on to offer some distraction. Clearly they’re on to escape their obligations for a short amount of time.

By the way, just to clarify, I have been guilty of all these atrocities mentioned above.

But why is that some forms of entertainment, such as social networking, are praised and others, such as gaming, are demonized?

My simple answer is that gaming is not necessarily wildly popular amongst the general public, whereas social networking is widely accepted. Hell, I’m not sure you’re an existing person if you don’t have your own page.

In time the anti-gaming stance may change as more people becoming involved with it.

But the point is, is there any difference between spending 3 hours playing games and 3 hours chatting with friends or viewing their profiles? There shouldn’t be. Either way you’re spending 3 hours on something that is not necessarily productive.
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How about you? Do you believe there is a double standard or do you believe I’m trying to say something for the sake of it?