You have probably heard or read by now that our
social addiction—Facebook—is making the news after exercising covert manipulations of what you see on
your news-feed. It turns out that Fakebook’s (Rush Limbaugh’s pet name for the
social media site) does not use algorithms after all. Before this latest
reveal, Fakebook executives claimed the incredible amount of very complex data
that enters the laboratories of Fakebook every minute, are consumed, digested
and analyzed by geeks; people that can actually spell algorithm. After the
geek-churning is completed, the very convoluted algorithm will determine what
should be in the news-feed of the Fakebook faithful.
As it turns out the geek-churners aren’t MIT analyst or of
any similar pedigree. More likely, it is “Allen” and “Lisa”, a couple of left
leaning interns that “decide” what news is worthy of sharing.
This news shouldn’t surprise any of us. Manipulation is the
new standard for many of the communication and information providers. In some cases,
“manipulation” doesn’t even accurately describe what today’s anchor men and
women try to get away with…a rose is a rose and a lie is a lie, and Brian
Williams is still Brian Williams.
But for this perversion of truth to enter the sacred
confines of our Facebook page requires outrage!
Well maybe not outrage, but at least a look at what consumers accept as okay when doing business in today’s world. But Facebook is
free, you say. Not really, I reply. They are traded publicly for truckloads
of cash. Not to mention all the other bells and whistles you can purchase to boost your standing.
Next week, by this time, this story will likely be lost in
the stratosphere of forgotten stories. Why? Because we love our Facebook. We
love our “Friends” and “Followers”.
We love that someone “liked”
something we said for the first time in our miserable, secluded,
Saturday-night-alone lives. Don’t
pretend you don’t float your cursor over Joe Cool and sixteen others like this so to see
who the sixteen others are, because
you know you do!
We love the stupid
cute kitten videos, the even stupider cute puppy videos. We challenge others to
get 100,000,000,000 “Likes” for a cause that we
really know nothing about. And evidently the only way you can convince others
that you love Jesus and are a true Christian is by sharing some sappy
picture.
I have had it with the Fakebook!
I think it is time we try something new. This may seem a
little radical to you, especially if your wake up alarm is a Facebook tune. But
put up with me for just a few moments. Look, you have read this far without
suffering from Facebook withdrawals, you can do it.
This radical idea…well it doesn’t even require you to have a
computer!
Phase 1
This evening, walk
outside, wave to a neighbor, or someone walking down the sidewalk.
Step 1 of
Phase 1 completed.
Introduce yourself, just in case they don’t know your name
after living next door for twelve years. Step 2 accomplished!
And now, talk to them. Talk about what’s in the news, the
weather, your kids, your schools; share your favorite sports team accomplishes
or defeats…Step 3 in the bag.
All of a sudden you have made FRIEND, SHAREd a thought and you even
LIKE this new experience.
And the whole world doesn’t know about it, because the whole world doesn’t need to know
about it.
Phase 2
If you want to know what’s making news, rub a few quarters
together and buy a newspaper. The newspaper exec's would like that very much, they are desperate for customers. Maybe one afternoon we
might even see the paperboy rolling
down the street on a BMX, learning what it means to have a job.
Or tune into your local news channel; there are plenty to
choose from. They may slant to the right or, God forbid, the left, but you are
intelligent enough to know how to think! Fakebook doesn’t think so. They depend
on you reacting, not thinking, as evidenced by their recent inclusion of emoji likes.
By now you may be thinking, Jim, you are talking about going back to the good ol’ days. Damn
right!
And finally, Phase 3
The next time you want to know how your mom, your children,
your spouse are doing, don’t “Message” them on Facebook…ask them, face to face.
If someone you know, a “friend” or “follower” says or writes
or shares something you like, pick up your smartphone
and call them.
If someone asks you about your faith or about Jesus—
Tell them His story.
We could call it Faithbook.
It might go viral….
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