Facebook: More Than Just a Social Network
Fame, marriage and justice! These are all things that using Facebook could bring you. When Mark Zuckerberg began the social network February 4, 2004 it’s safe to assume he never imagined his creation would change lives to the greatest extent. New things are happening every day being a part of the poking, posting and farming community. Here are some reasons you can give your parent, mate or friend as to why so much of your time is spent Facebooking the next time you are chastised.
Facebook can get you acquitted: 19 year old Rodney Bradford typed “Where’s my pancakes” on his Facebook page Saturday afternoon on October 17. The next day he was arrested as a suspect in a robbery. After Bradford made it known his message was written from his house during the time the robbery took place Facebook was subpoenaed to verify if this was true. Once this was established Bradford was a free man.
Facebook can reunite you with estranged family: Alex Anfuso was kidnapped at the early age of five by his father while his mother was in jail. He was then taken to a woman he was told to call “Grandma” and grew up wondering why he didn’t have any relatives. When the curiosity became unbearable he sent a message to dozens of people with the last name Anfuso with a message included about how he was looking for his family. A TV technician was one of these people and allowed Anfuso to share his story on a popular TV show. Although he found the answers he was looking for, sadly his mother had passed away before he could meet her.
You can meet your future mate: Kelly Hildebrandt is a female who went searching one day on Facebook for people with the same name and to her surprise found an attractive male counterpart. After sending him a brief message, the two began corresponding over a matter of weeks and in 8 months were engaged. Now they are living out their happily ever after.
Facebook can foil an armed robbery: Nitesh Bhakta who at the time was a sophomore at the University of Georgia was startled by his grandmother’s screams late on a Wednesday night. Upon opening his door he saw 3 men wearing hoods. He locked his door, grabbed his laptop and hid in the attic. There he updated his status with “HELP, ROBBERS, NO PHONE” notifying his best friend who called the cops. Minutes later sirens averted the robbers operation and the family was saved from what could have been devastation.
Facebook can save your life: When Deborah Kogan’s 4 year old son, Leo, woke up with a rash one morning she thought it might be a case of strep throat. Even after a trip to the doctor provided a negative test, the physician still decided to treat Leo for the unpredictable infection. The next day Leo’s condition had worsened and after a second visit was told he had scarlet fever. The worried mother took photos of her son and posted them on Facebook hoping someone could give insight into what was happening to Leo as the medicine didn’t seem to help. In ten minutes she received a call from a prior neighbor who informed her Leo looked like he was suffering from the sometimes fatal Kawasaki Disease as her son had gone through the same thing. It turned out Kogan’s friend was right and thanks to Facebook Leo got the treatment he needed before permanent damage was done.
There are many more stories about the good things that Facebook has done for those who use it. So continue to update your status, check in to places you visit and “like” your friend’s posts. Maybe one day you’ll have a story to tell!
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