Over the past ten years the Internet has undergone some major changes. With the advent of YouTube, Myspace, Twitter and, of course, Facebook large chunks of people’s personal lives are now lived online.

When you think about all of the advancements that the internet has made in the last decade, is social media the first thought to leap to your mind? Does that seem sad to anyone else? Thanks to search engines and the sprawling knowledge available through the internet the phrase “I wonder” should be a thing of the past, an outdated and archaic thought used by those who used to have to get their information from books or teachers instead of their Smartphone.

When you see teenagers huddled around a computer at the library it’s less likely that they’re contemplating questions for SAT test prep than watching a video where a kitten dominates a pit bull. With the better uses of the internet being overshadowed by the more social and shallow pursuits perhaps it’s time to point out that Facebook is NOT the internet.

Facebook Statistics

To make my point, I feel that it’s important to share some of the 2011 Facebook statistics as they were compiled by www.onlineschools.org. Some of the key points are as follows:

  • As of 2011 there were 500,000,000 active Facebook users worldwide. Which means roughly 1 in 13 people across the globe use Facebook.
  • Liking “drugs” was up 1131.9% in 2011.
  • Facebook was the most searched term in 2010 for the second year running.
  • 57% of people talk to people more online than they do in real life.
  • 48% of young Americans said they find out about news through Facebook.
  • Of the 18-34 group of Facebook users, 48% check Facebook first thing in the morning, and 28% check it on their Smartphone before they even get out of bed.
  • There are 206.2 million internet users in the United States. 71.2% of them are on Facebook.

What Does It All Mean?

What do these statistics say about internet use today (besides that most of us are compulsively drawn to Facebook not unlike a drug addiction)? While they may not spell it out directly I think that these statistics make a pretty good case that most young people today spend a great majority of their time online on Facebook.

I myself have found myself falling victim to the pull of the mighty Facebook while attempting to study. While taking my real estate licensing course I had a terrible addiction to Farmville, one of Facebook’s most popular games. I would come home from work, prepared to devote only a small chunk of winding-down time to Farmville.

An hour later I would realize that I’d clipped off some imperative study time tending imaginary crops and livestock. So I had to do the unthinkable: quit cold-turkey (no pun intended).

I was able to do so in order to finish my license work, but I found myself stricken by the impact of such a pointless endeavor. Is it really necessary for me to see what pointless and mindless chatter my friends (450+, perhaps 15 of which I really know at this point) are posting before I begin my daily work?

And when did imaginary crops become more important than pursuing my coveted real estate license? I had to proverbially smack myself out of it.

What Does This Mean For Students?

For me, Facebook was becoming a serious hindrance on my ability to concentrate on school work. After all, with one simple click of the mouse you could be learning about what Mindy bought at the grocery store today!

Might not seem too exciting to the common lay-person, but when compared with studying biochemistry Mindy’s yogurt choices start looking pretty cool! For parents of high school age and younger children I think that it’s important to set Facebook boundaries now.

There are plenty of online parental control programs available that will allow you to restrict your child’s online choices, even if only for certain time frames. Helping them to set and understand the importance of parameters with respect to their study time now might help them develop healthier online decision making in the long run.

Otherwise you might find that by the time you’ve spent a small fortune on K-12 tuition for the best education around the only thing you’re left with is a child with a Master’s degree in Likes. Take time to make sure that they understand the vast resources of the internet for help with their school work. If ever there has been a place to find actual interesting teaching tools the modern internet is it!

Don’t get me wrong: Facebook has many great features. It’s a great way to connect with long lost school friends, it really is a pretty good way to keep up with current events (believe it or not!), its strength as a marketing tool is ever-expanding, and it can be a great way to vent the small but humorous happenings of your life to others. Much like you shouldn’t let alcoholism or other addictions take over your life, however, it’s important that you pay the same close attention to your Facebook time.

Because contrary to the belief of teenagers everywhere, Facebook is NOT the internet.