GLUTTONY

Our parents were notorious for their addictions to marijuana, bad haircuts and flare pants. We’re going to be notorious for our addiction to the internet.

Facebook is the latest in social networking madness. MySpace caters for those expert at HTML and taking photos of themselves at flattering angles. Bebo caters for a slightly lazier, slightly more tween clientele. Twitter is one of the newer up-and-comings, for those who like their friends to know what they're up to at all times, and is supposed to be used by many celebrities. Facebook, however, is for everyone.

“What’s new on Facebook? I suppose I should get to doing something important and productive, but instead I’ll let my skin get pastier as I check up on who has updated their status in the 7 minutes since I last checked.”

Facebook is useful for some, but addictive for others. It’s a time consuming practice, and when a good session of Facebook stalking is being done, the clocks seem to move a lot faster than usual. There’s something addictive in being able to judge others whilst being sheltered from them. It’s like being able to stare at someone from ages without them knowing you’re doing it.

Dr. Kimberley Young, an expert on internet addiction since 1994, says that Facebook is rapidly changing in terms of its use, and its helpfulness to society. "Facebook has become an indispensable way to find old friends, schedule events, play games and even send virtual gifts. But if you’re doing more living online than off, it might be time to reassess. Many students (and adults) are now seeing Facebook more as an addiction than a networking tool, and psychologists are starting to agree."

Dr. Young also compares a Facebook addiction to a gambling problem. "Frequent Facebook visits actually cause something psychologists refer to as intermittent reinforcement. Notifications, messages and invites reward you with an unpredictable high, much like gambling. That anticipation can get dangerously addictive. It is an entire world where one can easily be seduced and sucked in"

The constant use of the internet turns into abuse. Facebook is supposedly meant for catching up with old friends, but leads to endless time wasting scrolling through photos of people who have merely dyed their hair strange colours and grown a few centimetres since you last saw them. 

However, unhealthy as gluttony in relation to the internet and services it provides can be, I can’t help but appreciate Facebook. We can’t learn or gain a whole lot from them, and yes, it can be the cause of someone’s complete deterioration socially or otherwise. But then again, I also think it’s fairly safe to say that pot, bad haircuts and flare pants didn’t really benefit our parents either.

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Check out Dr. Kimberly Young's Center for Internet Addiction Recovery by clicking here, for more information on Facebook and other internet related addictions.

Below: Video of a 60 Minutes piece on Facebook, interviewing Mark Zuckerberg, the 23-year-old behind it all.