Quite often, my Facebook, Google+ or Skype alert me to birthdays.
Remember when it felt special to be wished a ‘Happy Birthday’–especially when it was from someone who you didn’t think know it was your birthday?
It would seem as though the ‘birthdate’ field we fill-out while signing up for social media, has been used to *zap* that magical feeling.
I don’t know.
Maybe I’m just getting too old.
But it feels like Facebook is making us fake.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t ever turn down a good ‘Happy Birthday’ message, but when you realize all those people who left messages on your Facebook wall were prompted the first time they logged in for the day, it loses its edge, it looses its pizzazz.
I have a good friend who doesn’t list his birthday on Facebook. I’ve considered it. In an attempt to ‘keep it real,’ I’ve started to email my friends directly when wishing them a Happy Birthday.
Do you think Facebook is making us fake?
Maybe that’s why Facebook makes some of us feel miserable.
A recent study by two German universities found that Facebook makes us envious as it has become “an unprecedented platform for social comparison”
The researchers found that one in three people felt worse after visiting the site and more dissatisfied with their lives, while people who browsed without contributing were affected the most.
I’m reminded of 2 Corinthians 10:12 [MSG]:
“We’re not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they’re our superiors. We wouldn’t dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.”
So don’t start feeling depressed the next time you’re on Facebook and you see all those ‘Happy Birthday’ messages. That’s not the point. On the other hand, don’t start feeling too warm and fuzzy when you see all those ‘Happy Birthday’ messages on your own Facebook wall.
After all, Facebook told them it was your birthday.
[via NBC News]
Mike says
I like the happy birthday comments. I’d love looking at my feed on the night of my birthday and see over 100 happy birthdays! Only to realize that most of them would have never known and just clicked a link. I removed my birthday and this last year I only got 20 or so birthday wishes. I like that so much better. Those came from people that actually knew it was my birthday.
Eric Dye says
YES! THIS is what I’m talking about! And the same thing happened to me … yesterday … 😉