This week I read Chapter 5: Networked Relationships of Rainie, L. & Wellman, B. (2013) Networked: The new social operating system. The chapter discusses how personal networks have changed with time. There were a few concepts that stood out to me.
An idea that stood out was FOMO, the fear of missing out. The chapter quoted someone who tried to stop using Facebook “cold turkey” for 2 weeks. She made it 8 days and was plagued by FOMO. This is not a concept that I think I have personally had to contend with. I have never really had any fears about missing out on things happening in my friends lives or in the general world. I use media like Facebook mainly as a source of entertainment, and like the young lady in the chapter would most likely replace viewing social media with watching television.
The idea of closeness was also very interesting. Thinking about my own personal network, those who I consider close may not be conventional to everyone. I am very close with my first cousins. We are all only children for the parent that relates us. We all grew up together in my grandparents house and have a sibling-like relationship. My core network also include about 6 friends who I would discuss important matters with. Closeness is very relative and varies. I agree with idea that my coworkers are not part of my core network but are considered fairly close.
The thought that stood out the most was the idea that networks have become so large and diverse that they are no longer manageable without social networks such as Facebook. In reviewing what my own personal network looks like, I find that is true. I could never manage all my relationships with in-person meetings and phone calls. Many of my friends are still in Belize, and although I don’t use Facebook as extensively as I once did, I still keep up with their lives this way. Now the degree of closeness of these relationships vary, and I do manage my closest relationships via phone calls, text messages, and in-person communication. Another communication medium I do use to manage this communication is WhatsApp. Due to the costly nature of making international calls and for family members to send me international text messages, WhatsApp is a cost-effective solution.
My largest take away is that personal networks have evolved to a point where we cannot separate ourselves from them.