Internet activism must not stop at saving Facebook

Alert the masses and rally the crowds: Facebook might be shutting down, and we must do everything in our power to halt what might go down in history as the most disastrous event ever to alter our daily routines.

The founders of the social networking site ConnectU have filed a federal lawsuit claiming that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg stole their ideas working on computer codes for their soon-to-be-launched Web site, but failed to follow through and instead independently launched Facebook. Zuckerberg faces charges of copyright infringement, fraud and misappropriation of trade secrets, and ConnectU’s founders hope that the courts will shut down Facebook and grant them full control of the company and its assets.

Although Facebook has existed for less than four years, it already hosts profiles for more than 35 million users, including more than 85 percent of college students. Facebook is currently the seventh most visited Web site in the United States, and only time will tell whether it will be a temporary fad or whether it will remain a permanent fixture of our daily lives.

When Facebook addicts — um, users — heard that they soon might need to find alternate means of communication, they did not take the news well. The users decided to take action — but not the old-fashioned type of action that requires actually doing something. Rather, as news of the federal case against Zuckerberg spread, thousands created groups to “petition” against the closure of Facebook — the largest one has over 1.3 million upset Facebook users demanding that the courts rule in Zuckerberg’s favor. College students and other Facebookers have chosen their battle and now are cyber-rallying for their cause. And who said that activism on college campuses was dead?

A few days ago I signed onto Facebook — yes, I’m addicted too — and found that I had invitations to four different Save Facebook groups. I realized then that it was time to question our full time commitment to the Web site. There is nothing wrong with Facebook: It connects us to both new and long-lost friends, allows us to communicate with our siblings who live far away, and lets us share our pictures for free. Despite the Facebook horror stories and the necessity of Facebook detox for many heavy users the site’s social networking ability is both smart and helpful. What troubles me about the Facebook fad, however, is that it seems to be one of the only things that our generation is committed to. College students are rallied-up and ready to fight, but it isn’t for an end to poverty or a solution to the war in Iraq — it’s for Facebook.

The vast technological advances that have been introduced during our lifetimes are exciting, but we must not let our generation’s fascination with and commitment to recent discoveries hinder our activism in other areas of life. Our country is at war, our government is divided, and new medical advances are on the brink of discovery. Our generation has got a lot to fight about and even more to fight for. We must rethink what is important in our lives. We can fight for Facebook too — by all means Save Facebook! But let’s not forget the opportunity and power that can lie with groups united by and committed to their beliefs.

In generations past, Americans have rallied for causes and succeeded in bringing about change. We can use the technology new to our generation to fight for what we believe. Internet-based activism has proven to be a success—candidates use the internet to rally supporters, raise money, and spread information about themselves and their beliefs to others. This year’s Democratic presidential debate allowed many voices to be heard when CNN asked constituents to submit questions to candidates via youtube.com. Even Facebook itself is now used to raise money for social causes and rally political activism. We must pick and choose our battles and then fight for them; let’s make the Facebook cause one of many.

Julia Ager is a Lovett College sophomore.

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