Introduction
Admittedly, social networks have become an indispensable part of human life. On the one hand, such networks as Facebook provide many great opportunities to communicate and share opinions. On the other hand, Facebook may lead to many negative outcomes. Almost unlimited access to information often becomes a great problem for personal and social life.
Thus, Facebook can have such negative effects as privacy invasion and the destruction of relationships, and it can even influence the development of society (e.g., Arab world protestors). Therefore, Facebook should be banned as it negatively affects the major aspects of human life.
Privacy invasion
Facebook is one of the most famous social networks and has more than 500 million users. Of course, this network provides lots of opportunities to communicate and make new friends. However, the tool is too imperfect.
In the first place, there were several scandals concerning the network’s creators ‘sharing’ information. Reportedly, they sold the personal information of users to certain companies. The network’s creators argued that users shared their information, so it meant the information was not confidential. Likewise, almost anyone can find some personal information and use it.
The most vulnerable category of users is teenagers, who may reveal their personal information to criminals without even understanding the potential danger. Therefore, Facebook should be banned to prevent privacy invasion and associated crimes.
Destruction of relationships
Furthermore, such networks also lead to the destruction of relationships. Divorce lawyers claim that ‘cyber’ affairs lead to an increase in marriage breakdowns (Insley, 2009). Admittedly, many people find old friends with the help of Facebook. However, people also tend to substitute their real-life communication with cyber communication.
The latter seems perfect, and people focus on the imperfections of their personal lives. Eventually, many people break their real-life relationships to build new ones, which often terminate very soon. Therefore, it is important to ban Facebook to prevent people from the replacement of real life with an unreal life. Basically, this can be compared with the ban on drugs, which also leads to such replacement.
The only difference is that drug abuse has short-term consequences (health problems), whereas Facebook ‘abuse’ has long-term consequences (divorce, frustration, stress, possible drug abuse, etc.).
Social effects
Finally, Facebook can also affect the development of society. For instance, many people claim that societies only benefit from the use of such social networks as Facebook since people can be aware of the real situation in their country and in the world. Some argue that governments often suppress media trying to juggle facts (Dunn, 2011).
Admittedly, people should share opinions and information. However, sometimes, social networks may be used to foment riots. Some argue that the ban of Facebook and other social networks (e.g., Twitter) proves that governments try to limit communications in order to control nations.
However, the example of Egypt or Libya shows that such a tool as Facebook is not the primary tool of communication as the discussion of important issues continues even after the ban on social networks (Dunn, 2011). Therefore, Facebook should be banned as it can lead to unrest in society.
Conclusion
On balance, although some people argue that Facebook is a helpful tool for communication, it should be banned as it has too many negative effects. It can lead to an increase in crimes and social unrest. It also negatively affects the personal lives of users as it negatively influences the development of real-life relationships.
Reference List
Dunn, A. (2011). Unplugging a Nation: State Media Strategy during Egypt’s January 25 Uprising. The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, 35(2), 15-24.
Insley, J. (2009). Cyber Affairs Cited in Breakdown of Real Marriages. The Guardian, n.p.