I must admit I find it quite humorous – in a disturbing, twisted kind of way – just how quickly our society has adapted, communicatively speaking, since the ascension of Facebook to the top of the “coolest thing going online” list in the past handful of years. And while I’m certainly no stranger to the hugely popular website, I’m fairly certain I’ve managed to avoid that insane addiction which continues to afflict an ever-increasing percentage of the world’s online population on a daily basis.
Facebookaholism.
Yes, this chronic illness – while not officially recognized by the psychological community – is as dangerous as any I’ve ever encountered. And it’s only getting worse.
I’m sure those of you who, like myself, frequent the world of Facebook know exactly what I mean. You know, those people who, no matter how hard they try, simply can not break away from their smart-phone, laptop, desktop or, nowadays, tablet for more than ten minutes without updating or checking their current Facebook status. Or, for that matter, the status of their mother-brother-uncle-cousin-friend-best friend-best female friend-etcetera (the list goes on and on).
And if you’re reading this wondering to yourself just what, exactly, I’m talking about, you’re probably better off in the long run. Why? Because this Facebook addiction is serious business.
These hopeless addicts, these Facebookaholics, represent people of all ages. Teenagers, adults (young and old), even toddlers are impacted by this growing threat. I’m sure that somewhere out there, right this very minute, there’s some small child waiting hungrily on his or her mother (or father) for some breakfast while she mindlessly re-posts music videos of her favorite 1980s hair band.
That’s right, you guessed it, Facebookaholism at its worst.
In this day and age, we even have websites dedicated to the affliction. I’m not kidding. Most of theses sites even feature their own version of a 12-Step Program. Honestly, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, or both.
People lose sleep over Facebook. They ignore loved ones, not to mention their jobs. Some even break out in a cold sweat when their Internet connection slows and Facebook just isn’t moving fast enough.
