Facebook can be dangerous.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
As we all know, cyber-bullying is becoming more and more of a problem in the online world, especially on the ever-popular Facebook. While it is not anything new for young people to be victims of cyber-bullying, suicide is not the only thing coming out of Facebook.
Last week the Atlanta's newspaper reported that a mother had killed her child after he interrupted her while she was on Facebook. This mother (the article does not state her age) was
simply playing FarmVille, a popular Facebook game when her infant son started crying, drawing her attention away. She said that she shook him, smoked a cigarette in hopes of calming her nerves, and then shook him again.Not only is this disturbing, but it makes me wonder how else people are affected by the social media that we spend so much time using. What would compel a mother to think that her game was that much more important than taking care of her baby?
People need to take a step back, and learn how to responsibly use all forms of social media. We cannot let our lives be consumed by these wonderful online technologies, especially now that we can carry them around with us on our phone.
I want to know your opinions on this. Are social media tools, such as Facebook, getting out of control? Or was this just a rare case that won't become a regular occurrence? If it is becoming a problem, what steps should be taken to help prevent more tragedies (whether they be Shaken-Baby-Syndrome or suicides by cyber-bullying) from happening?
6 comments:
I think this is just a simple case of insanity within the human mind.
I believe technology in general shouldn't be blamed for human actions. The way I see it, technology is nothing else but technology; neither positive nor negative.
Technology is just a tool. Technology doesn't use people, people use technology; thus, I think it's a matter of ethics and appropriate use of technology.
These kinds of news, I believe, show that some people are still incapable of maintaining a good and rational control over social media. Hopefully something can be done about it.
I personally can't get over the fact the a woman killed her infant son who needed her care. All because he was distracting her from Facebook and frustrating her. Wow! The minute you get pregnant you have to realize your children always come first not some dumb online social site. I enjoyed the rest of the blog it was interesting. I just was stuck on the first part about the baby. It just flabbergasted me.
I don't get the fasination with Farmville but even if you're obsessed, to say the least, killing your own child, seriously? I agree with Alejandro. There is obviously something wrong in this lady's head. Technology can suck you in but I don't think it's to blame for murdering someone, especially your own baby.
I agree with Alejandro.
I think it is the person rather than the technology or social media in this scenario. People tend to blame the technology for their actions when it is just an easy way out.
There has to be consistency but responsibility with using social media and being a parent. I honestly believe that this woman had some healthy issues that caused her to act the way she did.
Things like this can be prevented and should be prevented by knowing your own limitations and setting your priorities straight.
Yah, this is really ridiculous. I heard about this case and said out loud: "What?"
I know from watching my roommate play these games hours on end that they're addicting & it's a tragedy. Social media sites like Facebook weren't meant for a bunch of gaming and nonsense like this I don't think. It's supposed to be a way to connect people...not kill them.
There's a very fine line between over-usage for maybe work purposes & addiction to these sites, & this lady DEFINITELY crossed it... What a crazy.
I completely agree with Alejandro. This has nothing to do with Facebook being "out of control." This woman could have been painting her nails, reading, watching television, or some other activity and have had the same outcome.
I don't necessarily thing cyber-bullying and this incident that be put in the same category. Bullies are using this as a medium to prey on their victims. This is completely connected to Facebook. The case of the woman shaking her child to death isn't. She could have been doing a number of other things that had her attention. This woman needs help.
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