How Facebook became Fakebook

I mention ​Fakebook in my lectures frequently. It’s a world in which we show and share our fun and beautiful side of life. A social platform where the ‘dislike’ button is avoided and a platform where many of us share all of the beautiful lives. But is it reality or do we share what we want people to see. Have we created a world full of fake lives? We see for many years a rise in resistance against Facebook. Besides this the platform still dominates our ways of communication. But it seems that things are changing? There are even voices that claim that Facebook, Twitter and Google+ have had their day. The most common reason for this prediction is that these platforms ethically inadequate deal with our personal data. Other platforms see because of this new opportunities. Like Proton mail. This is a mail service from Switzerland which is completely private and encrypted. Another example is Voycee. This emerging social network claims that your online history isn’t saved or used.

The backlash against the many and major social media platforms is growing steadily. We see the rise of encryption and equal access towards personal data. Data of which we want to be in control again. This in itself is nothing new. But what is also interesting is how we use those big platforms. What we share with each other? It’s the fun side of live, your nice car, boat or your children always having fun. Facebook is a collection of happiness. A far from realistic summary of life. Research also indicates that we actually feel unhappy, by the things we see on Facebook. We feel an urge to have a nice life because that is what everybody has according to Facebook. And so Facebook has evolved into a platform where we share our desired lifestyles?

Social media ... media where we can also show the downside of life? Or doesn’t that fit into the compulsive social picture of perfection and happiness?