on Facebook.

Facebook is one of the newest utopias for social networking. At first it was students only, now you can channel with anyone you affiliate with: friends, coworkers, old classmates, family, and even your boss.

Like the fictional character in the book 1984, this ever-reaching network keeps tabs on everything you do. Your personal information isn't so personal anymore. The advertisements that pop up on the side of every page you visit are personalized and deal with your interests/gender/personality/relationship status. Example: I'm a single woman, so a constant flow of advertisements such as: "Single and looking? Hot guys in [insert city here] waiting for you". Books from Amazon flash themselves on the screen with those same traits.

Big Brother is always on, always watching, always keeping tabs on everything anyone and everyone who is "signed up." If you exist under the Facebook regime, you have allowed yourself to be under surveillance by Facebook authorities at all times. In the novel, it's unclear if he actually exists, or if he is just made up by the government. You allow yourself and any information you post to be subject to ANYONE. Big Brother's function is to act as a focusing point for everything in society (friends, statuses, photos) and if you aren't a member of Facebook, it's like you're missing out.

The Big Brother of Facebook is seen everywhere. Posters, TV, blogs, as a sponsor, etc. The two minute hate is explained as an addicting passionate devotion, much like checking Facebook and posting new statuses every hour has become an addiction for so many. People are afraid if they don't check it, as if something horrible will happen to them...and the list goes on...

Moral of the story. Don't get caught up in this farce of "fun social networking" because you'll just be another one to jump the bandwagon. If you want to network? GO OUT AND MEET PEOPLE.