Facebook Events Worth A Look

The “Events” application on Facebook has become an irreplaceable tool for many college students.

On the Events home page, it is possible for an individual to quickly distribute information about parties, dinners, fundraisers, performances, and even upcoming astronomical events. The creator can select whom to invite, whether or not guests can bring friends, and whether or not the event will be publicly visible for other friends to see.

I have noticed that there are three basic categories of events that students use. The first type is personal. Personal events tend to be smaller gatherings among friends. Generally, guests will have talked about the gathering in person before they receive a Facebook invitation. These often include birthday dinners and smaller parties.

In contrast, the second type of event is an impersonal event. These can be large parties, concerts, or campus events. They may or may not actually be hosted by the person who you receive an invitation from. Usually, you only find out about this even through Facebook. It is common for someone to invite everyone on his or her list of friends to an impersonal event.

The third category of Facebook event I see often is the awareness event. Awareness events do not involve an actual meeting at a specific place or time. Their creators seek information, action, or promote a global sense of fellowship.

For example, although it has become cliché, many people create events when they get new cell phones and ask that everyone who joins post his or her number.

Most awareness events promoting action include a link to a website where the guest can vote in a contest or otherwise participate. I once received an invitation to this sort of event inviting me to write a letter of protest to a politician.

Awareness events promoting global fellowship can include anything from today’s “Hug a Jew” day to the release date of a highly anticipated movie.

Some people find the sheer number of Facebook events to be overwhelming. These people particularly complain about awareness events, claiming that they are pointless if there is no actual gathering to attend.

Others say that Facebook events are an impractical way to plan. For instance, my roommate dislikes the “maybe” option on the response page. If guests would answer yes or no, she says, it would be clearer how many people to plan for, which would make planning less stressful.

However, I believe that the Facebook Events application is an essential communication tool for college students.

First of all, Facebook is an easy way to reach many people at once. With a quick scroll and the click of a button, you send an invitation to hundreds of people. You would never be able to speak to all of them in person.

Secondly, most college students check their Facebook pages regularly, and are notified when they have been invited to an event. These notifications trigger an immediate response, so it is quickly easy to gauge how many people are interested in a party you are hosting.

Lastly, event pages on Facebook are interactive. Before responding to an invitation, you can browse which of your other friends are attending to help make your decision. You can also read and post comments on the page.

Overall, the Events application is far more useful than it is annoying or impractical.