The pope blessed social networking a "gift" on Friday
By Rosemary Peters
Many days freshman history major Whitney Simpson can be seen in front of her computer, fervently typing on the keyboard. However, the paragraphs she writes are not for a class paper or for homework.
In fact, her paragraphs will become something much more than another history class essay; they are a small piece of her collection of online blogs.
"Whenever I do blog, I just do random thoughts. I don't think everyone on Facebook needs to know the intimate details of my life, nor do I want them too," Simpson said. "But I like to let my actual friends know the funny things I think about."
Simpson has been blogging for over a year now, and on Friday she was given a blessing by Pope Benedict XVI himself to continue her quest to unleash her inner thoughts and feelings via Facebook.
According to The Chicago Tribune, the pope welcomed the "gift" of social networking tools such as Facebook and Myspace by saying that these sites can foster friendships and understanding. Furthermore, they respond to the "fundamental desire" of people to communicate.
Jeromy Koffler, director of Student Activities, who has presented several speeches about the topic of social networking, entirely agreed with the pope's position.
"I am a proponent of using social networking to communicate. It makes things more effective and is a great way to enhance relationships," Koffler said.
According to Koffler, approximately 80 to 85 percent of the UP faculty and student body had a Facebook page in fall of 2006. Furthermore, about two-thirds of the same group had a MySpace page.
"We haven't done a formal study since 2006, but I know these numbers have gone up," Koffler said. "I would guess that almost everyone has a Facebook page now."
The communication of our generation is made simpler on Facebook with wall posts, photo comments, and the newer Facebook chat option, which is similar to AIM. These communication abilities help students maintain relationships with friends and family members.
"I keep in contact with friends from high school that I didn't think I would ever see again," freshman Andrea Milholland said. "It's much easier for us than it was for parents to create and foster friendships through tools like Facebook. And it feels really good to have the ability to feel involved in my friends' lives even if they don't go to UP."
The pope even has his own Facebook profile to keep in contact with the world, though he may not know it. There are four pages that have been made for the pope and one fan page titled "His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI" which has over 27,000 fans.
Although these Facebook pages may not be legitimately made and operated by the pope himself, Pope Benedict has shown his support for social networking tools by becoming an avid user and supporter of sites such as YouTube and the spin off GodTube.
In this same speech during the annual World Day of Communications on Friday, Pope Benedict also made it clear for users of social networking tools to use them in moderation.
According to The Chicago Tribune, the pope warned that "obsessive" virtual socializing can isolate people from real interaction and deepen the digital divide by excluding those already marginalized.
Koffler agrees that this is an important point to stress.
"These sites are a great way to enhance your relationships, not to replace them," Koffler said.
Koffler also warns students to be careful about what information they post on their Facebook and MySpace pages.
"Students don't understand exactly what they are agreeing to when they sign the 'Terms of Use' agreement," Koffler said. "This agreement allows social networking sites to sell your personal information. So even though you have a free Facebook page, Facebook is making money by selling ads on your page."
According to Koffler, these advertisement companies mine Facebook and MySpace pages for certain terms, and then post certain advertisements to match the key terms found. Koffler has experienced this market targeting firsthand when an advertisement for one of his favorite authors appeared on his page after he added the author to his profile information.
The Chicago Tribune also reported that the pope deeply urged producers of social networking sites to ensure that the content respects human dignity and the "goodness and intimacy of human sexuality."
According to Koffler, this ties back into being careful about what a person chooses to post on their social networking page.
"If everybody was using these sites appropriately this wouldn't be a concern, but students should to protect their personal information," Koffler said. "This means things like being careful to not post their address or their telephone number or even their IM address which is public information."
