Who Are the Real Observers on Facebook?

Facebook is an increasingly growing social network that enables people from across the world to stay connected with friends and family members. So why is it a surprise that many people see this virtual network in a negative way? With over 1 billion users online each day this establishes several ways individuals can communicate with each other, whether it is by online messaging or keeping up-to-date with others profile pages. It’s simple, to use Facebook as an online community, browsing other user’s pictures and posts is deemed completely normal. So, it can be argued that everyone is a contributing factor to the concept of ‘Flaneur’s’, as users are observing a vision of each other’s lives.

A flaneur is someone who walks in a relaxed manner observing the society around them, which can easily be applied in social networks as discussed by Dr Victoria Kuttainen (2017). Just as the flaneur enjoyed the fluidity of the stroll in the city observing society, now social networks have created a community where individuals can actively observe, without necessarily having to participate in them. (Barnes 1997, p.1) This has resulted to Flaneur’s drawing less attention to themselves, as most users on Facebook don’t keep their privacy settings updated or realise who is looking at their online activity.  

Image 1: Giuliano (2015)

It is understandable that many people have mixed feelings about Facebook as a social network, as it is a powerful tool that can be used in complex and social ways. For example, many business and academics have now realised the power they hold within social networking. Being able to either access information, publish scholarly documents or target clients is now easier than ever thanks to technology. However, with these strategies in place it supports the ideology that everyone online is a form of flaneur. 

Cyberspace is an alternative geography that needs to be seen, witnessed, and experienced in order to exist. (Barnes 1997, p.1) Although many people are afraid of strangers spying in their virtual lives, users need to be aware that not everything they see in their online community is true. By stating or posting a small portion of the truth, you still have room to hide things that do not tell the whole truth. For example, when someone posts a photo of themselves with a group of friends, this does not necessarily mean they are all close friends. They could simply be work friends who all despise each other, but this post leads us to believe something that is not entirely true. (Woods, 2006 p.1) Hence, the importance of being aware that users and businesses on Facebook are not always portraying the complete truth and being manipulating. YouTube has also supported the importance of showing other Facebook users the danger in believing everything that has been posted on this website. This video is a reminder that users rarely show the bad events that are going on in their lives, as most individuals like to convey only positive aspects of their lives.

References

Barnes, G. (1997). Passages of the Cyber-Flanuer. [Web Blog]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/

Giuliano, K. (2015). This is why Facebook just changed its friends icon. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/09/facebook-just-changed-the-friends-icon.html

Kuttainen, V. (2017). BA1002: Our Space: Networks, narratives, and the making of place, week 4 notes [Powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au

Wood, D., Kaiser, L. W., & Abramms, B. (2006). Seeing Through Maps. Oxford, United Kingdom: New Internationalist Publications. 

Xecuriani, V. (2014). Facebook and a different reality. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz1BMCpPCzM