Facebook – along with other social networks – have changed the way our friendships, relationships, and self-reflection function

Photo by Spencer E Holtaway

At the age of 13, we can ‘officially’ begin our journey interacting with Facebook…

… usually unaware of the dangers

regarding sharing Photo by moyerphotos

Almost naïve to the dangers, kids and adults want to share as much as possible…

Photo by mapsquest

Now we face problems about our privacy…

How secure is our network and information on these platforms?

Photo by marsmet501

Facebook has accelerated the amount of cyber-harassment and bullying…

A result of being able to harass or tease 24/7 on social media outlets

Photo by John Spencer

However, kids and families can use Facebook and similar apps to talk with family members, mentors, idols, etc.

Photo by marilynnm63

As Canadians, many of us use Facebook frequently.

With up to 12 million daily users and 18 million monthly users, we clearly love to use Facebook.

Photo by Dan Taylor

NOW,as the site tracks us…

They adjust advertisements to match our activity and interests

Photo by Mark Gruber

Facebook has partly influenced the growing popularity of the ‘selfie’, a new form of self-expression

Photo by randii2015

One result of social media sites is that people are now turning to friends and family about their appearance for re-assurance…

And now, rely on friends and family for fashion ideas instead of relying on celebrities.Photo by Malingering

The decision of the profile picture.Researchers now claim a crucial teller to see if you’re well liked or not is the comments on your profile picture. More pressure.

Photo by lucidialohman

Facebook has also altered the way meeting, dating, and relationships function, form, grow, and break

Photo by Kheel Center, Cornell University

You are forced to choose between single, in a relationship, engaged, married, its complicated, etc…

And when or if you change your relationship status, everyone on your network is told about it

Photo by andreasnilsson1976

How couples choose to display their relationship online is positively correlated with their levels of commitment, including being ‘Facebook Official’ Photo by AARON_400D

Facebook has been

predominantly characterized

as a negative effect,

however… It can help

reduce

some of the

uncertainty

in relationships

Photo by gwire

Not stating you’re in a relationship on Facebook actually led to many problems between couples because of differences in sharing preferences.

Photo by anitafrances

Facebook can also lead to people feeling pressure to not end a relationship due to family influences who are on Facebook as well.

Often times, people delay the breakup as a result.

Photo by Kevin Dooley

And now, you can’t really end communication lines with an ex-partner because you will almost always run into each other on your online social networks or in person.

Your networks are very entangled. Can be very awkward.

Photo by joeltelling

Facebook can make it easier at the beginning stages of a relationship…

…as you can send informal friend requests which allows for more comfortable and slower progression.Photo by Wesley Fryer

Studies show that the more expression of oneself online, the less intimacy and deep relationships one will have offline...

Also, a greater usage of Facebook predicted lower levels of satisfaction in romantic relationships

Photo by pecooper98362

How we communicate and express ourselves online is starting to mesh with how we are viewed offline…

Additionally, the type of social media we use shape what we say online…

Photo by mkhmarketing

With our use of Facebook and social media sites growing exponentially, yet our understanding of how they affect our behaviours with regards to interacting with our friends, family, and networks not quite understood, we must remain cautious and protective of ourselves to not over share and expose our self now or in the future.

Photo by sherifer22

Bibliography• "Coming of Age in the Digital Age." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 01 Feb.

0013.• Erickson, Christine. "Mashable." Mashable. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2013.• "From Bullying to Relationships: Mapping Our Online communications."

From Bullying to Relationships: Mapping Our Online Communications. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2013.

• Jacobs, Tom. "I Now Pronounce You FBO: Facebook Official." Pacific Standard. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2013.

• McCann, Allison. "BuzzFeed." BuzzFeed. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2013.• McHugh, Jillian. "'Selfies' Just as Much for the Insecure as Show-offs." WA

Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2013.• Web. 17 May 2013. "Tech News." Thestar.com. The Star, n.d. Web. 17 May

2013.