by Meghan Rizzo

Created on: July 14, 2009   Last Updated: August 06, 2009

While Facebook has provided us with an easy means of keeping in touch, sharing our lives, nurturing relationships, and even helping charitable organizations, it does have its share of negative effects. Following are some of the less desirable aspects of Facebook of which users should be aware.

Wasted Time

For some unknown and mysterious reason, time moves rapidly when one finds oneself engaged in certain Facebook applications. It is not unusual for a person to spend upwards of an hour tending to his 'Farm Town' or taking quizzes that reveal things such as 'The Color of [His] Love' when he could be spending his time engaging in far more productive activities.

Facebook is the ultimate enabler for those with a tendency to procrastinate, and the realization that one has spent the better part of the day playing 'Mafia Wars' is a harsh one indeed. These habits are nearly impossible to break. They are so addictive, in fact, that many Facebook users will log on from the workplace putting their very livelihoods in jeopardy.

Declining Social Skills

Just like any other internet social venue, such as forums, chat rooms, and instant messenger services, Facebook allows people to communicate without ever having to see one another face to face.

Mental health professionals worry that these cyber interactions are a detriment to participants in that they discourage traditional human interaction. It is far easier to log onto a website and chat with friends than it is to drive to their homes to see them in person, but physical human interaction is important to one's mental well-being. Also, maintaining contact solely through cyberspace can be damaging in that it is somewhat superficial and not as meaningful as face to face conversation.

Lest you forget the nuances of a smile or the meaning behind an embrace, it is best to use Facebook sparingly in maintaining interpersonal relationships.

Dangerous Content

Though Facebook is vigilant and quick to remove offensive or dangerous content, some still finds its way onto the site. Groups promoting anorexia and bulimia as a valid means of weight loss, for example, are dangerous for impressionable teens. Additionally, the prevalence of pornographic images makes it difficult for the site to find and remove all offensive content. Hate groups encouraging intolerance toward gays or minorities are also common, though these are technically allowed due to freedom of speech laws. Therefore, it is imperative that the online activities

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