A BOON OR A BANE?

Presentation by:

TINA OLYAI
Director, Little Angels High School, Gwalior
 Some 200
years ago a
Messenger of
God appeared
in Iran who
was called the
Bab. The Bab
foretold His
followers that a
He said that even a small
new era is child of that age will
striving to surpass the knowledge of
appear – an the wisest scholars of the
era of light. old age and everything
they would want to know
will be at their fingertips!
When we watch a teenager
sitting with a desktop or
laptop and opening
countless ‘windows’ of
information-sharing with a
stroke of his or her fingers,
we marvel how true the Bab
was! Today a child sitting in
New Delhi can instantly
connect and know
everything about
Washington. Time has gone
when one had to pass by
horrible jungles and wade
through fierce rivers to
reach another corner of the
world in an exhaustible
journey of several months.
Now .... literally ... with a wink of an eye, we can have a
virtual meeting with several like-minded people, share
their photos and videos, chat with them, feel their
emotions and convey our feelings, have weather
forecasts, know what food items are savoured in that
corner, show them our favourite things, and be part of a
fast growing social community of friends.
 The most
popular
networking site

Facebook is among the most popular and a totally free social networking site
where people can connect to each other, convey emotions, make friendship, share
interests and create a network. In other words, it is a commune of ‘online friends’
where they can have interactive sessions and face-to-face conversation.
 On Facebook,
users can create
profiles with
photos, lists of
personal interests,
contact information
and other personal
information.
Communicating
with friends and
other users can be
done through
private or public
Users can also create and join interest messages or a
groups and "like pages" some of which are chat feature.
maintained by organizations as a means of
advertising.
 In addition, Facebook has a number of
other features including the Wall, a space
on every user's profile page that allows
friends to post messages for the user to
see; Pokes, which allows users to send a
virtual "poke" to each other (a notification
then tells a user that they have been
poked); Photos, where users can upload
albums and photos; and Status, which
allows users to inform their friends of their
whereabouts and actions. Depending on
privacy settings, anyone who can see a
user's profile can also view that user's
Wall. In July 2007, Facebook began
allowing users to post attachments to the
Wall. Previously, the Wall was limited to
textual contents only.
An imitated name
with an innovative
idea ..

Originally, the name FACEBOOK was

popularly used for an introductory book
disseminated to new college students in
the U.S. so that they know each other.
The idea was picked up by Mark
Zuckerberg who, along with his three
colleagues, started the Facebook, Inc. Mark Zuckerberg
in February 2004. The website's
membership was initially limited to The popularity of Facebook
Harvard students, but was expanded to can be measured by the
other colleges in the course of time and fact that it currently has
now any child above 13 can be its over 500 million active
member. users.
There is much controversy
about the Facebook.
This presentation intends
to investigate if FACEBOOK
is a bane or boon.
Everything can be put to good use as well as
bad use. Even a clock that is wrong, tells
right time at least once in 24 hours. The
purpose of this presentation is to weigh the
pros and cons of using Facebook especially
by children and youths.
Facebook has a positive aspect. It can be used
by clients or users to unite with networks in any
place - office, school, university, organizations,
etc. -- to hook up and act together with other
community. Citizens or people can also append
associates and send them messages, and update
their personal profile to notify friends about
themselves. Such information, if used properly,
can be useful at times and may save a lot of time
and energy than using other methods of
communication.
In fact, Facebook has created a
new generation, often referred to
as Generation F. This generation
is living in a ‘virtual’ world and
does not need to gather at a
place and feel personal presence
of friends or talk to them in the
real way. They believe that online
networking allows ideas to be
considered among peers with
greater speed in contrast to
traditional methods of personal
meetings.
 While this approach for making new
acquaintances and maintaining existing contacts
is really convenient, we must know that human
relationship thrives on “real” rapports and not just
on “virtual” meetings. Man is not a machine but a
pulsating heart that needs real and genuine
relationships. Too much of everything is bad.
Recently, we read about the two daughters of
Obama, the President of America. It was said
that both the sisters rarely have any face-to-face
dialogue. Even if they are sitting in the same
room, they convey their thoughts to each other
through their laptop.
Once Mahatma Gandhi had told that
“too much use of machine, makes a
man machine, too”. The story of
Obama’s daughters and the reality of the
new Facebook Generation testify to this
Gandhian truth.
The sad point associated
with this Generation F is that
they are living in a trance of
error ... exactly like those
people who are sunk in the
intoxication of a fatal drug
and take the virtual things as
real. They walk and talk and
think they are acting normal
but they are in a trance ...
others can see their tottering
walk, their broken voice,
their world set in the valley
of forgetfulness.
One can feel the extreme of this trance, the horror of this
addiction, by himself or herself. Ask yourself some
questions:

Do you jump on your computer to log on to Facebook or similar sites as

soon as you have come from your school?

When your friend is near you, you talk nothing or very little with him or
her and as soon as the Facebook is on, you feel like talking with him/her
and sharing everything?

Do you often dream yourself chatting and sitting in a cafe or near your
laptop, instead of dreaming other things like the sky and the mountains,
natural scenario, etc?

Do you prefer writing small notes on your computer/laptop to using pen
and paper?

Do you prefer chatting and using sites like Facebook to personally going
and seeing your friend living in the same town or calling him on phone?

Do you like spending most of your time near your computer or in a cafe
than with your parents, brothers and sisters?

Do you prefer watching TV or using computer than reading an interesting
book?
If the answer of ALL or MOST of these
questions is in YES, you are in a
serious problem. You have net
addiction and this addiction, if not
checked earlier, will lead you to a self-
destructive world, away from reality,
responsibility and even morality.
There are several
‘declared’ advantages
of Facebook as follows
but most of these
advantages are
pseudo advantages
which have their own
pitfalls.

Many students use Facebook
to learn new things, discuss
their school or college projects,
share useful ideas with each
other, develop sound
friendship and similar activities.
A unique social software
Facebook is a unique social software.
One can connect to other people,
groups or individuals of similar interests
in easy way. Thus it helps in expanding
contacts and human relationships. A
basic psychological need of humans is
to seek recognization and appreciation.
Teenagers and youths are especially
more fervent to vent their feelings and
seek like-minded friends. That is why
Facebook (and other social networking
sites like ORKUT and MYSPACE) is
very popular among the new generation.
 Selective use

Facebook gives its users the freedom to choose what one

desires to share and what one does not want other people to
know about. Thus, one has full control over his or her privacy
level. It depends on the user how to manage or control the
nature and amount of information to be shared with others
and restrict certain portions of information to particular
associates or friends. In this way, it is truly ‘user-friendly’.
The Facebook freedom also applies with Groups that can be created by
users. These can include anything from grade school connections to
hobbies and interests. Groups can be public and available to everyone
or private, meaning only those invited can join and view discussions.
Similarly, the Events feature allows friends to organize parties,
concerts, and other get-togethers in the real world. Users can also
create FAN CLUBS of their choice.
A complete
and
composite
place for
interaction

Facebook is a ‘one-stop place’ for all the individual or group-based needs

of people or communities. The services include blogging, media,
calendaring, communicating, sharing ideas or information, etc. In these
ways, Facebook can provide “Cooperative Extension” abilities or
capabilities to work together and construct networks in a single place
without difficulty. This facility is not available in traditional methods.
For example, Facebook can be used to seek opinions of peers, coworkers
or friends/relatives on a particular issue without wasting time in personally
contacting each and one.
 A tool for connecting with a global
family
Facebook provides us a
platform to develop
contacts with a global
family, to understand
each other, and
construct sound
relationships. The
Vedic thought of
“Vasudhaiv
Kutumbakam” (The
Earth is but one family)
can be realized through
tools like FACEBOOK.
 Sharing made easy
A popular feature on Facebook is the ability to share photographs
uploaded from a phone, camera, or hard drive. As with other private
information, users have the option to allow only friends to see their
pictures or anyone. There is an unlimited amount of storage available,
which is a major advantage of Facebook's photograph sharing
capabilities.

Users of
Facebook can
also share news
stories, video,
and other files
with friends.
 It has awesome
games
Facebook also provides
children and youths an
opportunity to play online
games. Some games like
Farmville, Zoo, Petville and
Aquarium are especially very
popular.
HIDDEN
DANGERS OF
FACEBOOK

When we compare the said advantages of the

FACEBOOK with only few of the following
disadvantages, it becomes evident that
FACEBOOK loses its face.
 Wrapped
in controversies

The popularity of Facebook has been associated with

controversies, too. Its impacts were considered to be so
serious that some countries including Pakistan, China
and Iran even banned it. Facebook was prohibited even
in some offices and workplaces to prevent people from
wasting time.
 Possible misuse of
other people’s
information or picture
It is not necessary that a person has himself or
herself created a profile on Facebook. Some other
person can post vital information about you, and
even upload your picture, without your knowledge.
Here’s what a school student has to say in this
regard:
“I would never join Facebook. I keep in contact
with my "friends" in other ways. I feel Facebook
is another vehicle for people to post pictures
and say negative or untrue things about other
people. Many people use it for good, but many
do not. It is scary to me that someone could
upload a picture they have of me, put it on their
Facebook and spread a lie within minutes to
multiple people all at once. I'd say be careful to
anyone using this crazy fad.”
 A source of envy and strife

It is the usual nature of humans to develop personalized feelings for

people we are in contact. There is a ‘sense of belonging’ in emotional
relationships, including friends. All cannot be treated in the same way.
It is possible that some postings on FACEBOOK may offend or hurt
our sincere friends.

The ‘openness’ of Facebook can, at a juncture, create envy and strife and break
many hearts. The point that must always be borne is that human relationship is
often, if not always, emotional, and cannot be ‘generalized’ on a social
networking site.
How much privacy we really have?
It sounds good to say that Facebook gives its users total control over
his or her privacy but the truth is different. Most of its users are children
and junior youths who are not ‘experts’ and may not know about
‘privacy settings’. Even those who are old-aged may not know that third
parties can access information about them.

For example, when you

are playing a game or a
quiz, you may authorize
an application to be
downloaded to your profile
that gives information to
third parties about you.
Your information may be sold to
third parties
The new concepts of Facebook
like OPEN GRAPH clearly
indicate that Facebook is
interested in getting as much
information from you as
possible. It actually is a way to
share the information in your
profile with all kinds of third
parties, such as advertisers, so
they can have a better idea of
your interests and what you are
discussing. The more info you
share, the more money is
coming to Facebook from
advertisers.
 Frauds and
scams

As on Facebook all are connected through a network, each one’s

security actually depends on the security of the other. For example,
your friend’s profile may be hacked in case his or her password is
stolen, and a spam or malware can be sent in his or her name. Your
‘friend’ may also request you money and believing that it is really your
‘friend’ you may act upon that request only to deprive yourself of a huge
amount.

Sometimes you don’t notice but your personal
information reached undesirable people. Isn’t
it dangerous? Remember, according to a
study conducted in 2008, about 40 percent of
all Facebook profiles are fake.
Are they all real?
Facebook and other similar
networking sites thrive on a
massive networking of
people. For example, you
may be networked with 400-
500 people or ‘friends’ and
relying on their profile to be
real. You don’t know each of
them personally. Their photos
and profiles may all be
incredible. And yet you are
letting them know what you
are doing now, where you
are, your friends and relatives
and all such things.
 Not in keeping
with Indian
culture

Facebook is a western concept and may be good in their atmosphere.

However, Indian – or broadly speaking entire ASIAN – atmosphere is not
suitable for such ‘open-ness’. It is not necessary that modern social
networking sites which fair well in West are also good for the East. It is
only few years ago that many children of Japan committed collective
suicide after setting a date and time on the net.
Vulgarity, uploading of obscene pictures of friends and peers (especially
girls) are other threatening dangers posing from time to time in Indian and
Chinese schools.
 Our culture has been a
sane culture where it is
believed that true liberty
comes in the frame of true
discipline of mind. We
should not forget that the
most free creatures on this
earth are animals ... they
have no moral question, no
family ties, no obligations
of relationships, no dignity
or character. Are we going
to be free like animals?
 Quick tools for
spreading rumours

Networking is good as it enables speedy

communication. In that way a powerful
thought, immediately required opinions
and sharing of views on important issues
can be easily obtained through
networking media but the same
networking media can be used for
negative propaganda. Any person can
start abusing someone else, defaming a
prestigious institution, and harming a
well-reputed company. Once a rumour is
agog, it spreads fast according to the
proverb that “ill news runs apace”. No
doubt, Facebook and other similar
websites have destroyed many
relationships and defamed many great
institutions.
So ... what’s FACEBOOK:
A BOON OR BANE?

Every progress becomes a boon or a bane

depending on how we use it. Facebook is
not an exception.

When the Bab had foretold that a new era is about to appear
when knowledge will be at the fingertips of children, He was
surely referring to the unique potential this century of light will
keep hidden. It is upon us how to use this potential.
 Moderation is the
law of God
(Do not screw the strings
of your harp so tightly that
they break, nor let them be
so loose that no music is
possible) -- This is the
essence of the teaching of
Lord Buddha known as the
Middle Way.

Krishna teaches the

same to His disciple: “O
Arjuna! be moderate in
eating, in sleeping, in
every effort.”
And Mohammad said: "O you who
believe! Make not unlawful the good
things which Allah has made lawful for
you, but Commit no excess: for Allah
loves not those given to excess."
Jesus Christ
exhorts: “Be
sober-minded;
be watchful.
Your adversary
the devil
And finally, Baha’u’llah advises
prowls around us in the following words: "If
like a roaring carried to excess, civilization
lion, seeking will prove as prolific a source
of evil as it had been of
someone to goodness when kept within the
devour.” restraints of moderation."
 Every user, especially children, should be aware that
FACEBOOK or any social networking site is not a charity. Even
if they are FREE, They are earning money in billions and their
main interest is in generating larger and larger revenues. We
should not be foolishly trapped by their attractive packages. A
writer has said: “If a sword is golden and glowing, I will not
stab it into my bosom”. We cannot afford to be self-
destructive for little gains.
 There is no harm using Facebook sometimes in a week or
10-15 minutes a day to catch up our friends and contacts but
it should not become an addiction. It cannot be considered a
wise passion to waste hours and hours sitting before a mute
computer and forget the real sweetness of life that is all
around us. It is nothing more than foolishness to create
‘virtual’ relations at the cost of sacrificing true relations of life.
Is it not madness to see fake flowers on the wallpaper when
a real garden of sparkling roses is just in front of us?
Get out of
Trance …
Lets awake from our trance and open eyes
to life. “Life is real .. life is earnest”, as
poet Longfellow said. God created a real
world for us. He could make a ‘virtual’ world,
He could make flowers of finest papers with
artificial fragrance, He could fill fake
emotions in a mother’s bosom, false sense
of responsibility for his children in a father’s
heart.
But God made a real world for us .. so that
we share real tears and true smiles. God
created this century of light so that we use
our time and resources to make a better
world, to use the knowledge at our fingertips
for a brighter tomorrow.
YOUTH CAN
CHANGE THE
WORLD

….. and they will surely pass beyond this phase of

Generation F to Generation G (i.e. Generation Godly)
to fulfill the prophecy of the Bab which is so beautifully
worded by a poet, John Addington Symonds:
 e : a lo f t ie r r a ce
s e t h in g s s h all b h a ll rise
The k n o w n s
r t h e w o r ld hath
Than eve in th e ir s o uls
f la m e o f f r e edom s.
W ith in t h e ir e y e
t o f k n o w le dge
And lig h
la n d w it h la nd,
o n w it h n a tion, f re e ;
Nati e a s co m ra d e s
d s h a ll liv
Unarme a in s h a ll th rob
e ry h e a r t a n d br
In ev f ra t e r n ity.
o n e
The pulse of
 Man
And shall lo
fe r v ve m
Who e nt an w
c a s ith h
God hant t the
you eart
’s f a heir
ce w hea ng-ey as pur
ith ven ed t e
New u ndis ly ps a h rong
And arts sh cord
a n
lms
befo
m a t
And ightie ll bloom s on
g.
re
eve r mu o f
whe r s lo
n al y life sh ic thrill ftier mo
l t he all b the uld,
eart e s
h is a song kies,
para ,
dise
.
Will not that be
the real FACE-
BOOK of
humanity?