Now You're Just Somebody That I Used to Know
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Now You're Just Somebody That I Used to Know

When Facebook means being 'friends' with people who no longer play an important role in your life.

111
Now You're Just Somebody That I Used to Know
theinspirationroom.com

One of the interesting things of our era is Facebook. Here is a website that allows us to friend people regardless of how close we are to them. I would venture a guess that most high school and college students have several hundred friends. I have 550, when I checked Saturday morning, and a quick look into my list of friends shows people with 600, 700, even 1000 plus friends. You can sort your friends based on which school they went to, when their birthdays are, and even how many mutual friends you have. For a statistician, like myself, it is quite fun to take a look at who your Facebook friends are. Being connected on Facebook to practically everyone you have ever met produces a strange outcome: Being friends with people who no longer play an important role in your life.

Scrolling through Facebook, we are bound to come across friends with whom we are no longer close. Twenty years ago it was possible to lose contact with someone and let that be that: Only hearing about them at class reunions or through friends. Now, it is impossible to not come into contact with some form of that person: Instagram posts, Facebook events, tweets. Those same college students I mentioned earlier are just now beginning to understand that.

As we grow up, mature our circle of friends and interests narrow and stabilize, as a consequence we leave some people behind. These can be old co-workers, exes, school friends, etc. I recently came across college graduation photos of a person I was close to in high school. I realized I had not seen her, let alone heard anything from her, in over two years. I could not tell you what her major was, what she planned to do with her life, nor any important things that had happened in her life. For all intents and purposes, calling her a friend was a loose use of the word at best. In the words of Gotye, “Now she’s just somebody that I used to know.”

As college students, who grew into the Internet Age, grow into the “Real World” we are going to have to figure how to deal with he friends we leave behind. Not all people can add to your existence and are easy to let go, to let them grow in their own unique and specific way. Other friendships are much harder to leave. It is very easy here to be so intertwined in this person that leaving them or them leaving would do more damage, cause more suffering than you are ready to handle. I am sure we have seen the drawing and quotes to this nature, but they all deal with the face-to-face consequences, not the digital. Saying goodbye is hard, but it is even harder when it is impossible to escape their digital footprint.

I do not offer a solution to this problem that we will all have to deal with at some point, but I hope to at least get you thinking about how to say goodbye.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

933766
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

110097
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less
New Year Resolutions

It's 2024! You drank champagne, you wore funny glasses, and you watched the ball drop as you sang the night away with your best friends and family. What comes next you may ask? Sadly you will have to return to the real world full of work and school and paying bills. "Ah! But I have my New Year's Resolutions!"- you may say. But most of them are 100% complete cliches that you won't hold on to. Here is a list of those things you hear all around the world.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Ultimate Birthday: Unveiling the Perfect Day to Celebrate!

Let's be real, the day your birthday falls on could really make or break it.

57696
​different color birthday candles on a cake
Blacksburg Children's Museum

You heard it here first: birthdays in college are some of the best days of your four years. For one day annually, you get to forget about your identity as a stressed, broke, and overworked student, and take the time to celebrate. You can throw your responsibilities for a day, use your one skip in that class you hate, receive kind cards and gifts from loved ones and just enjoy yourself.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments