The Facebook Sonnet: Decreases Face-to-Face Communication - Essay Example

An Analysis of The Facebook Sonnet: Decreases Face-to-Face Communication

The Facebook Sonnet: Decreases Face-to-Face Communication, a poem by Sherman Alexie, addresses how social media, more specifically, Facebook, has rendered face-to-face communication. In the poem, Sherman points out that although Facebook offers highly interactive social communication, which allows people to connect with a simple, it has steered them from traditional interaction.

Communication has become more of liking pictures and posts instead of interacting with real friends. People are addicted to screen interactions, and getting carried away with the online shenanigans has become easy. According to Sherman, Facebook steers its users from real life aspects and interactions. Many of them detach from the present only for them to relive the past. In his poem, Sherman has a negative attitude towards Facebook, pointing out that many users get caught up with keeping up with social media as real life passes them by.

Alexie starts off the verse with a sarcastic hook, which is useful in captivating his audience. He 'welcomes' readers to what he refers to never-ending reunions while calling to past friends and lovers. From the beginning, you can admit his negative feelings towards Facebook. He proceeds to describe problems associated with Facebook use and how it's perspective in relationships and interactions.

In his poem, he says that Facebook connects people with others forming friendships that are not necessarily real. He adds that numbers tend to lie when it comes to the value of their friends. The number of friends one has online does not reflect in their real lives.

As Alexie proceeds, he adopts a serious tone and dives into talking about religion. In his opinion, Facebook has overtaken the lives of many individuals without them realizing it. From flattery to negative comments, Facebook has led to lasting relationships and also pushed some users to suicide. While relations are forged some leading to bringing a child into the world, there are also cases of online bullying that have driven teenagers to take their lives.

Depending on your posts and reactions to your photos, Facebook could either be a user's hell or heaven. When he says, "…For God become public domain. /Let church.com become our church". Sherman shows how nothing is sacred anymore when he uses symbolism to compare Facebook to a church. Although he does not specify the religion, but he mentions God and the church.

When looking at the words portrayed by Alexie, it is evident that he frowns upon Facebook. Present and fame are the phrases he uses to describe Facebook as presumed by users rather than what it is. He says that social networks influence people to live an unrealistic life. Many are victims of screen hypocrisy using Facebook as an escape from their present.

Instead of facing their present, many want to hide behind their screens, portraying a false life to their 'friends'. By allowing people to reminisce about tender years, Facebook evokes 'what if' questions in its users. Thus, leading to many being stuck in past times, making it hard to live their present to the fullest. Facebook also exposes users to the glamorous life of others that only leads them to have unrealistic expectations.

Therefore, they become more engrossed in the life of others only to lose the direction of theirs. Social media has a lifeline for many individuals. The need to follow up on trending topics and online friends has become an addiction.

He says fame is the attention many Facebook users are looking for. They are invested in accumulating more comments in their updates and lengthening their number of friends. Users yearn for validation of their posts from 'friends' who are not even their close friends in reality. The desperation for approval and attention has led people to upload images that would only result in future embarrassment.

Individuals concerned about their online image and will go to the extent of uploading posts that brag in an attempt to get validation from online friends. You see users thriving to live a life of others, even if it is not a reality. Alexie emphasizes why compliments from real friends are more significant than the online comments. He adds that although many individuals strive for online compliments, these do not always matter.

He urges people not to allow online hype go to their heads as it will cause a drift with their real friends. A poet stresses that the reasons behind people seeking 'fame' and approval online are small, and there are other significant things they can focus their attention on.

The rhymes in Alexie's poem, The Facebook Sonnet, differ from those of traditional writers like Shakespeare. Patterns in the rhymes far not the same as those in typical sonnets. For instance, high school does not rhyme with cruelty. These are called slant rhymes, and they occur several times in Alexie's poem.

As he makes words jingle, Sherman shows the disrespect he has for Facebook. Alexie also does not bother to rhyme when he says fame and domain. He concludes by referring to it as an altar of loneliness because of how most users are religiously committed to logging on for updates. They keep on refreshing on their timelines and checking on notifications.

He uses repetition when he says, 'sign up' and 'sign in' to show the increase of individuals joining and stating active on Facebook. Based on his word choices, he incorporates in his poem: it is Alexie's opinion that social network connections like Facebook impact society negatively. Although it is multi-directional, Facebook takes away from the authenticity of the communication. Instead of having a meaningful relationship, people are hiding behind their screens in the name of social interaction.

In the poem, Sherman agonizes the effects of social media networks on people and also society. Instead of becoming an effective means of communication, online platforms are crippling interactions between people. Through analysis of the poem, it is clear that Sherman's point is that face-to-face communication triumphs the number of friends one has on Facebook and their popularity online. He emphasizes the importance of people acknowledging their present and appreciating what they have if they want to attain meaningful relationships.