public space via Facebook!

Social exchanges take place in this abstraction of public space. It allows for a new type of “meeting” where the physical aspect of interaction is abandoned. The idea of divorcing the old school methodologies for social interaction has been twisted and catered to a world of convenience. A means of befriending, meeting and networking with people has transformed. The space was originally structured for social networking but has grown into a complex animal. People [friends] are able to participate in multiple modes of dialogue in this virtual public space. The opportunities for these dialogues are ultimately decided by the user dependent upon how much information he/she is willing to share. These dialogues are means of communicating through different mediums provided: updating status, editing personal information, uploading pictures, blogging, etc. Many of these dialogues are not directed towards one particular person but more towards the whole network.

This site does not comply with the typical public space, but over the years I believe that it has slowly replaced the conventional ideas of social interaction and opened up doors for new means of connectivity. The space allows for modern ways of accidentally bumping into someone, loitering, people watching, and meeting new people much like how one would in a public park. How exactly are these traditional actions translated into this new age?

Because these modern translations are so easily accessible by the user, the line of privacy within this somewhat public space is very blurry and always questioned. Traditionally we are usually aware of these types of instances, but today, the modern act of loitering and people watching often gets carried away and categorized into something negative. Is this movement of modernizing the way we interact healthy? There are consistent means of flow with constant moments of transfer and exchange between actors. Facebook has transformed into a node of exchange where opportunities for the modern social interaction is finally challenging us to participate in the idea of non-physical public space. Some may not be aware of this new phenomenon but are giving us something tangible to explore by habitually logging on and abandoning the physicality of interaction. Another layer to add to the richness and complexity of this public atmosphere is the fact that actors participate in all types of locales. Some are active in what I would say an immobile state [visiting site from home] while others are extreme with their mobility [synced in with smart phone]. Actors are given freedom to saunter through when and where they please without any form of a time cap. Because of this convenience and flexibility actors are able to continuously keep dialogues [transfers and exchanges] afloat, which keeps this node relentlessly flooded with activity.

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