Atlanta, Georgia – As Facebook celebrates its 20th anniversary, many users have conflicting emotions about the platform. One such user, Thomas Lake, reflects on his experience with Facebook over the years, acknowledging the ups and downs of its impact on his life.
Lake sees his Facebook feed as a living journal, documenting the milestones and memories of his life. From the early days of joining Facebook in 2007 to the present, he has witnessed the platform evolve and change the world, for better and for worse.
In its early days, Facebook was a platform for posting photos from epic Halloween parties and sharing quirky status updates. As time passed, the nature of his posts evolved, reflecting the changes in his life as he grew older and became a father. The platform became a space where he chronicled the domestic moments and cute things his kids said.
Throughout the years, Facebook has served as a digital museum, allowing Lake to document and preserve significant moments of his life. It has facilitated easier communication with friends and family, connecting him with old friends and helping him appreciate real-life experiences.
However, as the coronavirus pandemic forced people into isolation, Facebook took on a different significance. Lake used the platform to ask his friends about the small things that brought them happiness, leading to an outpouring of gratitude and a celebration of life.
Despite its challenges and controversies, Lake acknowledges that if given the chance, he would join Facebook all over again. He sees the platform as a valuable repository for the milestones of life and a space that has helped him appreciate real-life experiences more deeply.
As he reflects on his journey with Facebook, Lake’s story serves as a testament to the complex and multifaceted nature of the platform, capturing the evolving role of social media in people’s lives.