Response to the article, "Facebook: Public Heath Danger"

Ablow, K. (2011). “Facebook: Public Health Danger.” Retrieved January 15, 2012, from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/08/08/facebook-public-health-danger/#ixzz1jZMMnjYl

Summary: Facebook is sending out a false sense of status to many people and making them feel as if they are a celebrity. It makes people feel good and is becoming more and more like a drug because people are getting addicted to using Facebook. Studies have shown that children whom are users of Facebook are more likely to get involved with other drugs because one addiction kindles other.

This article, “Public Health Danger” by Dr. Keith Ablow, brings up interesting thoughts about Facebook and how it can be a false idea of one’s self or can become an addicting drug. I can agree that social networking can give one the idea that they are popular and have many friends. It can defiantly be absorbing and I feel is taking over face to face conversations. Many people can hide their insecurities and shyness behind the screen and be out going and fun like everyone wants. It is addicting and can be considered a drug because I know for me and others that it is hard to get online without checking Facebook or Twitter. One can feel like someone else when they are online and feel like a “somebody”. Just like Dr. Keith Ablow say in his article, “You needn’t be very quick-witted or very kind or even very likeable in order to gather a whole troop of people ready to reassure you that you are all those things” (2011). With Facebook, being a “friend” of someone does not have to mean that you have met or even talked with the person. Although, one still feels as if they are friends and it makes them feel good.  It is a whole different world in social networking, and whether it is good or bad is still being decided. Ablow says, “I believe social networking will turn out to have psychological consequences every bit as ominous as cigarettes” (2011). I tend to agree with Ablow, but only time will tell where social networking will all take us.