Social networks connect people, are a way to share information and one’s personal beliefs, and allow users to define themselves through reviewing and creating their profile page. Social networks give only a slice of each users life as one can pick and choose what they post and how they communicate with others. The average Facebook user has met the majority of their FB friends in person before friending them of FB. Social networks allow people to represent themselves through text, images, and audio formats. The way a person may seem on Facebook may not be how he or she seems in person. Although, Facebook and other social networks can complicate the way that we understand people, they can also be beneficial.

Outlined below are three ways that Facebook allows us to maintain relationships, develop our identity, and figure out who we are.

1. Facebook connects us to others. No matter where you are in the world, Facebook makes it easier to share images, videos, web links, and send messages to friends. The chat feature also allows for instant text communication. Facebook lays out the trail of communication easily for users to sort through. As Facebook displays who we are friends with (through our FB Wall, News Feed, and our friends list), it is easy to find FB users that are connected to you.

2. Facebook allows us to share our beliefs and show others what is important to us. Posting information, such as a web link or a picture informs others of your interests and beliefs. Facebook can be used to get the word out about political or social movements. Through posting information on Facebook, a person can reach out to their friends about something he or she believes is important to share.

3. Through Facebook we can take the time to define ourselves. When developing a profile page, a person can share as much or a little information as he or she chooses. It is easy to update and change one’s profile page. In taking the time to review one’s own profile, a person can then think about the way that he or she chooses to describe himself or herself to their FB friends.