Odds are, if Facebook is not currently loaded somewhere on your screen, you have been active within the last hour. This platform is easily an extension of ourselves, as it not only allows for communication with essentially anyone, but also serves as a place to upload and store photos, videos, web links, and status updates. Additionally, Facebook is accessible from any smart device. While this extends our ability to communicate with people from all around the world, we are often numbed by the content of this medium. We typically value what a user specifically posts, but it is more important to consider our reactions to this content — the message. Think about a time when your newsfeed has been flooded with a political article. This article did not go viral because of what it says, but because of our reactions. If I as a user support what this article says, I am likely to share. However, if I disagree with the content of the article, I still have an interest in disliking it. Lastly, there are certain implications placed around Facebook, as users must be media literate. For example, I had to give my grandmother “Facebook lessons” when she joined it.
What’s the Message?
LitMUSE
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