Facing the Facebook: Critical Analysis

Facing the Facebook is an informative essay that updates readers to the immediate effect
of social networking sites to the lives of the people. Written by Michael J. Bugeja, Director of
the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University, the paper
dissects this effect as to be negative in a sense. The gist in the article purports that this kind of
technology which is succumbing in the institutions as the information resource can be somewhat
rather attracting distraction inside the classrooms. Although he acknowledges the benefits of the
social networks in its guises of easier and innovative social interaction, the effect in the academe
for him warrants in not to be completely boon.
On this article, Bugeja singles it out that student predilection to this kind of technology is
to be construed as negation to the actual requirement needed for school selection. Thus with this,
I see that Bugeja becomes so critical to the application of the technology. Its apparent that his
consideration in the argument is the inutile deliberation of social networking sites in the
curriculum of academes. According to Bugeja, that from the premise of enrolment rate, students
likely to enrol in school with such kind of technology offered; instead of considering its over-all
reputation. However, this allegation of Bugeja appears to be somehow corrosive of biases. As
some other researchers claimed, it could be much better that a certain institution is equipped of
technology. However, this was not touched further in the paper.
In the explications in the paper, it can be asserted that more than a technological tool,
Facebook in particular became the main element of distraction. Instead of developing critical
thinking, more the like, Bugeja posited that schools in this present demand are to develop multi
tasking students. It can be deduced that in the long run of application, Facebook tends to create
an unusual way of isolating students from the real face to face conversation by secluding them to
their computer screen and personal opinions. The use of technology accordingly hibernate
anyone from what is uncomfortable to him. Lastly, it can be tracked down from the paper that
social networking leads to some ethical concerns that afford conflict among the institutions,
parents end employers. The unwarranted solicitation of information over the internet became the
place of hostilities to information that are prejudicing either ones reputation.
In a deep construction and analysis of the paper, it can be surmised that Facebook
overtime became a source of entrainment rather than constructive information. In one of the
supporting stances in the paper, the author guised that instead of reading newspapers and
informative resources, students addiction tend to pour them out in less relevant information. The
addiction compromises the students lifestyle that in result, it became a priority to them more
than studying. Moreover, the Ethics and Policy Centre posited that social networking sites are
egocasting. This hide the blemishes of oneself in order to ostensible sell himself online. This
gears verily ethical concern according to the said centre. Christine Rosen said that the long term
effects of networking sites are to be more destructive.
Descending to the premise, I have to concur that Bugeja made a good and congruent
assertion of ideals. The facts and testimonies of the experts and authorities are placed hand in
hand that it formulates a solid stance over the matter. However, my concern is that, in dealing
with the issue, Bugeja fails to resolve the side of the actual parties in the story. He did not
touched what the students, institutions and parents actually feel about the social networking sites.
After all, it is them who are the ones to be affected.
Although I agree to the conclusion of Bugeja that wise investment is the only way to
restore the critical thinking among students, his complete aloofness to technology itself is
insufficient. Nonetheless, he should have considered other factors. The long lasting battle of this
conquering technology can be addressed if we will go back to how the victims are actually been
paralyzed.