Politics brings out true depth of Facebook 'friending' [View all]
October 26, 2012 by Rex W. Huppke, Chicago Tribune
Sean Bergan has witnessed the turbulent confluence of a heated presidential race and the free-wheeling world of social media. And, like many this election season, he has responded by putting a virtual finger to his lips, saying "Shhhhh!" and clicking a button to vanquish those who fill his Facebook page with partisan rants.
"I've unfriended people on several occasions," said Bergan, 19, of Oswego, N.Y., who is a sophomore at Eastern Illinois University. "Especially if they're so extreme to one side or the other. I like to consider myself moderate. You just don't want to be seeing that stuff three times a day in your own news feed."
This divisive presidential contest has brought out the worst in many people, particularly in the online world. The result is a rampant severing of social media ties - unfriending or unfollowing. Web acquaintances who reveal their political leanings find themselves swiftly jettisoned by so-called friends who realize their ideologies don't align. Or Twitter followers are dumped simply because they won't shut up about politics.
It says as much about passions over the campaign as it does about the evolving - or possibly devolving - definition of the term "friend."
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-politics-true-depth-facebook-friending.html
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