My Introduction: "The Why"

 I got my first cell phone when I was 12. It was a pre-paid Nokia, the one with the changeable face-plates; it had 30 minutes a month and was to be used as an emergency phone only. It didn’t have Internet, it had a black and green display, and did not receive text messages.  Life was extremely simple, I didn’t have a Facebook page, twitter account or even a Myspace/LiveJournal profile (Oh yea old school social networks, what, what?). I was just a 12 year old girl with a red bike, ambition and a pre-paid cellular telephone the size of my head. As I got older I realized I was not alone, many people my age were not extraordinarily connected to digital media. It was only when I stepped through the Woody/Shales dormitory hallways that my eyes were opened to the super exclusive world of Facebook. See, in the old days, way back in 2006 you had to be in college to have Facebook. I didn’t even know what it was, I just knew my cousin Michele had it and that I needed it to be cool in college.

I remember going to orientation praying I would get my e-mail username so I could set up my Facebook account. All day I waited and waited, I didn’t get a single piece of paper. I went home defeated because 3 of my friends were already online; they had groups...and pictures...and status updates...and I was so jealous. Three weeks I waited for that username! When I finally got it in my hands I tore through the envelope like mad woman, throwing the crumpled letter to the floor I flew to my new laptop, flipped it open and signed on. I posted pictures, tagged pictures, updated my class schedule—the works. I was addicted. Over time though, my addiction to Facebook faded into lab work, writing assignments and play rehearsals, but what I missed I could catch up with on Facebook.

After 4 years with my computer literally attached to my fingertips I have come to both love and hate social networking outlets. On the one hand, after graduation, and even during school, I could catch up with lost friends and family members. I could gain quick access to breaking news, featured articles and celebrity gossip. I could even read my favorite artists blogs.  Unfortunately every single second I spent spend on Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr was is completely public--if you don’t believe me “Google” yourself and see what pops up. Every negative post about “how ridiculous my B- on that really awesome paper I spent hours on” was out there for everyone to see, even the professor I was posting about. (Let me just say, I’m very sorry for any angry updates that may or may not be directed at you.)

I thought I was a little ridiculous posting my private thoughts all over the Internet, but just as I did before, I realized I wasn’t alone. In fact, I started realizing that most people (ages 12-30ish) would rather post a status or text rather than physically, vocally, really talk to another human. A friend of mine, whom will remain nameless, will, I am absolutely not exaggerating, hit the “ignore” button on her telephone and text me a reply to the voicemail I left her. I realized I have to get to the bottom of this. I need to understand a generation I am lumped with but have a mild connection to; I need to figure out this whole “virtual social networking" thing and what it means for a generation that is, very quickly, becoming adults. In the spirit of cultural and linguistic Anthropology, and consumer research, I am creating this blog/website to share what I’ve learned so far.