Probably the most commonly asked question after meeting someone new is, “Do you have a Facebook?” Sometimes they don’t even ask, they just go straight to “Friend me!” Who knew that friend could become a verb? My response really puts them off: “I don’t have one.” What? A teenager without a Facebook in this day and age? Never!

The thing is, I don’t want one. My parents have informed me that if I ever decide to get one, they’ll let me, so that’s not an issue. It just doesn’t seem appealing to me. I would use it for…what? “Friending” people? Putting my random thoughts out for everyone to see? The only thing I would do with it would be to stay connected with friends from camp or cousins that live far away. To me, it really wouldn’t be worth it to do that then have people nag me about not replying to their messages or responding to a picture I got tagged in. It certainly wouldn’t be worth it to get 20 updates a day from Facebook telling me about comments or pictures or games that I accidentally got myself involved in.

Michelle Huynh, freshman, says that she has a Facebook because her sister told her to.

“I have one because it’s a way to be social while at home sitting on your couch.” says Graham Rebhun, also a freshman.

Great reasons, right? No.

Freshman Chloe Richard doesn’t have one because her parents won’t let her. She wouldn’t get one anyway, though. “It’s a waste of time sometimes. Nothing [seems appealing]. Everything I would do on Facebook I could get on email, which I am allowed to have and do have.”

The main point, it seems, of a Facebook is to talk to people. For Huynh, the best part is when someone chats with her.

“I basically use it for saying Happy Birthday and communicating,” she says.

“I use it to get the homework assignment or to get homework help,” adds Rebhun.

“My least favorite part is that people can stalk you,” he continues. Richard agrees, saying that that’s the least appealing part about it.

From what I’ve heard, Facebook is kind of pointless. Maybe for some, it’s the thing that keeps them going, but that may be bordering on an unhealthy obsession. It can be useful for homework or announcements, but, as Richard said, you can do the same thing with email without having to get involved in all Facebook has to offer.

So, my opinion? Get a phone.