essay draft

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Tyra Gilliard
ENG 101
Professor Bolton
Society and Social Networks
Hal Niedzviecki’s essay, “Facebook in a Crowd,” emphasizes the difference between acquiring
social network friends and acquiring real friends. When Niedzviecki logged on to Facebook, he realized
he was close to having 700 online “friends” (958). But being that he didn’t know them personally like he
knew his previous friends, he decided to have a Facebook party. After tabulating the responses, 15
people said they were attending, 60 people said maybe, a few hundred said not, and the rest ignored
the invitation (958-59). However, on the day of the party one person showed up. According to him, “For
chipping away at past friendships and blocking honest new efforts, you really have to blame the modern
world. People want to hang out with you, I assured myself. They just don’t have the time” (Niedzviecki
960). Niedzviecki acquired 700 online friends, but spent the rest of his night drinking alone. He insists
that society relies on social networks entirely too much to meet or interact with people. I agree that
society is becoming too reliant on social networks to meet people because my experience on a social
network confirms it.
First of all, I agree that society relies on social networks too much because social networking is
much easier to communicate or meet people. Online communication allows you to communicate with
people freely and openly. Also, you can be yourself with not much hesitation and if you choose not to
interact with people you can simply leave the site. Yet, you meet a bigger variety of people online and
can interact with them without certain hindrances people would experience when communicating in
real life. In Niedzviecki’s essay, he states “I logged on to Facebook and realized that I was very close to
having 700 online friends.”Niedzviecki managed to acquire that many friends online better than he

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would have attempted to acquire real friends. To give emphasis onwhy social networks are easier to
communicate, I relied on Facebook various times to contact my best friend because it was the easiest
yet quickest way to reach them. Not only does society rely on social networks to communicate easier,
they also rely on social networks because they are afraid of real life communication.
Second, I also agree that society relies on social networks entirely too much because they are
scared or timid to speak to people in person.When people are behind computer screens they can do or
say anything without being judged. Also when you’re online, it may be easier to say things you may not
be able to say in person. According to the text, Niedzviecki states that Paula insisted that the people
whom he invited probably felt shy about making a new friend, so they didn’t come to the party. I’ve also
experienced a situation regarding to my best friend being scared or timid. My best friend insisted on
telling me the truth about what really happened via Facebook because she was too afraid of how I
would react in person or how she was going to explain the truth to me in personally.
In conclusion, social networks has become too relying for society to communicate or meet
people. Like Niedzviecki stated “you really have to blame the entire modern world,” I strongly agree
with what he states. Society is replacing the traditional means of communication with social networks.
Before the internet consisted of social networks, the original way to meet or communicate with people
was through gathering or meetings, workforce and through mutual friends. If the society continues to
rely on social networks, then social networks will continue to define our generation as well as the
internet ensured the terms of communication today.

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Works Cited