Facebook is an integral part of life for a lot of people. Updating statuses, uploading pictures, keeping in touch and sharing every little tidbit of our lives with each other. Without lecturing about the societal impact of the technological revolution that is Facebook, its meaning to different generations is quite interesting.

Ironically over Facebook chat, my 15-year-old cousin came to me with what she made to seem like a major problem. Apparently, she had accidentally deleted a profile picture and was desperately wondering if all the comments and likes that had been associated with the photo could be recovered. Mildly baffled, I told her I did not think she could and it amazed me just how upset she was, claiming that she had over 30 comments and 45 likes. The only times I have ever seen that many comments and likes on one photo or status was when a major piece of news surfaced, like an engagement, new school or another major life event. The idea stuck with me and I “creeped” another friend of mine who also seems to have a very active Facebook. It was like each profile picture or mobile upload was in competition with the last to have the most comments.

Is Facebook the new popularity contest? Who has the most friends, who has the most likes, the most comments? Personally, an overinteraction on Facebook does not seem desirable (at least to my generation) but given the technological advancements and their place in society, maybe it’s inevitable. Whether you are a techno-pessimist, a techno-optimist, or a bit of both, Facebook’s impact on all of its users is pretty interesting.

But how is Facebook being perceived by other generations? The dangers of the Internet as a result of the information we post are becoming more apparent. Posting endless drunk party pictures or writing inappropriate statuses and comments could influence opinions of an individual later on. Certain people are actually cutting down their friend list and deleting old photo albums.

Why the generation gap then? Why are some people brutally competing for the most likes and have no problem displaying their lives on their wall, while others are trying to hide and delete anything that is mildly compromising? Maybe it’s just something that comes with age and experience, but then again, I was pretty excited when figuring out my new timeline.

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