Social Media and Friends

A personal and professional friend recently posted the following on Facebook:

How to start an argument on facebook:
1. Post your opinion....on anything.
2. Wait
3. Stir
4. Start typing in all CAPS to raise your voice.

This got me thinking...and I replied with the following:

Doesn't it make you wonder about the level of friendship you have with your Facebook friends? Do you know what I mean? If you were at lunch with a group of friends (which is how people once exchanged ideas before social media, right?) and you expressed an opinion about something, there would be chit chat and friendly conversing and it was unusual for anyone to get bent out of shape, raise their voice, or get offended. I don't know if social media makes it that difficult to communicate, or if we are simply extending our circle of friends to include so many people that we have confused the definition of a friend. friend (frnd)
n.
1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.
4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement: friends of the clean air movement.

What are your thoughts? Are we going to far to be people pleasers? Do we accept friend requests because we want to have as many (or more) friends as some of the people in our 'circle'? Are we afraid to post what's on our mind because we don't want to offend someone?

Weigh in...there's no right or wrong answers - how are you feeling about social media and your circle of friends? Where do you see things five years from now?

~Crystal