After wading in the Internet’s waters for a few minutes longer, I promptly stood up and walked away from the computer, sure that this relationship would always be dry and unsatisfactory. As middle school commenced and puberty hit, the Internet was starting to look more and more appealing. I started to notice nice new things about it, like AIM chat that could allow me to make a friends list from people at school. I gradually became infatuated. My mother and father frowned; they hated the sound of the Internet connecting, the fact that no one could call while I was on, and the general worry that I would end up in chat rooms with questionable people. I had many first during that exploratory time online; I even began speaking a brand new language. LOL.

Suddenly, I began to realize that this tool was becoming quite strenuous on my parents and my eyes and soon began to take steps back. My parents made these steps much easier too when they decided to unplug the internet entirely. I was devastated. As time goes on, we heal. By age 17, I was learning to use the Internet as a tool for school. My junior and senior papers were written from mainly Internet sources. E-mail was making all types of informal communications easier not just for me but also for the world at large. Enter college, I am now checking TWU’s Blackboard every day for assignments, grades, and e-mails. Indeed, I thought by now I had found a healthy balance between my life on the Internet and my real life in the world.

Then came the wave of self-aggrandizing Web sites like Friendster, Myspace, and Facebook. This time, I refused to become infatuated with these new Web sites that seemed to appeal to my greatest weakness: my ego. I will admit to having an art Web site that I have maintained since 2004. It’s a bit indulgent I’ll admit, but I always maintained that I would never get a Facebook or a Myspace. I used to chuckle to myself when people asked to Facebook me, but now I can only laugh nervously. This past weekend I finally gave in to getting a Facebook. It was a big step for me, having consistently defended myself against getting one for the past few years. I refused getting a Myspace as well because I believed I was making a statement about refusing to have my life be lived out in pixels in an inanimate digital world. No one has found this sentiment amusing except my boyfriend. As a last effort to achieve networking in starting a new organization on campus as well as to increase communication in present organizations I’m in—I got a Facebook. That last part still shocks me. Although so far, Facebook hasn’t given me too much trouble; I still can’t find comfort that it’s collecting information about me. This is not like a rock collection, or a stamp collection, this is me! Facebook states on their Web site that they “collect and use the information you provide to us…” Their private policy goes on to state “Facebook also collects information about you from other sources, such as newspapers and instant messaging services. This information is gathered regardless of your use of the Web site.”

I started to notice these past few days while I am on the site that I am seeing more and more ads that are catching my attention whether I like it or not (which I don’t).  Facebook claims in their private policy that they will only share my personal information with “responsible companies”. I suppose this is like a show and tell of their personal information collection that companies must pay to see. Interesting enough, most Facebook users are well aware that the social networking site is spying on them. I figured it would be okay to go ahead and quote them from my site, since they already agreed to be okay with Facebook’s policy. Brian Gooding of Colleyville said “Facebook is actually really useful. it took a while for me to come around too.” Jacoby Stewart tried unsuccessfully to ease my discomfort by saying “What’s up Scarlett...welcome to the book.” This indifference could even be compared the American public’s own indifference to certain provisions of the patriot act that allow the government to spy on its own citizens, except  the purpose is not to make money but collect information on terrorists. A friend from CREW, Jacob Inurrigarro, wrote this sentiment on my wall: “It looks like you’re adjusting to Facebook nicely” with an added smiley face. But I’m not. As it stands, I am in a moral dilemma. Do I shut down my newborn Facebook and go on living my life quietly without advertisers knowing my likes and dislikes or if I ever hooked up with Wyclef Jean? (Which I did not, by the way) However I did dance with him in Irving (Youtube: Crazy white chick). I seem to be stuck between wanting to stay connected (if that’s even an appropriate term to use) with the 73 friends I have made so far on Facebook while also wanting to be someone whose identity isn’t solicited. It’s a fine line I hope to draw before this phase of my complex Internet relationship ends, as most phases thankfully do in this cyber age. Until then, Facebook me :)

TTYL 

~Scarlett Pope