On any given day, I log on Facebook at least a couple of times. Checking posts on my wall, friends’ photos, or making use any of the various applications, it can become quite time consuming and if not managed properly, addicting. Facebook is a mainstay of our culture, however we need to know how to use our time on it.

One of my closest friends recently deleted his Facebook account. When I approached him about it, he said it was too much of a distraction. He is supposed to graduate soon and keeping his grades up to par with past performance is key to securing a job in just a few months. In a recent study conducted by Ohio State researchers, the average collegiate GPA of users was a full point lower than their counterparts who didn’t use it. If you are continually concerned with your grades, perhaps getting off Facebook would do your GPA a great service.

Not only do I find myself concerned with my grades, but also the time I spend with those who mean the most to me, my friends and family. These figures form a vital support structure to our lives and are there for us through thick and thin. If they are neglected through overuse of online social networking sites, we are doing them a great disservice. A study conducted by the University of Southern California found people who say they spend less time with their families because they are on the internet tripled over the course of the last three years. In the same time period, the amount of time spent with family members per month has shrunk from 26 hours to a meager 17.9. I’m not sure about you, but success growing crops in Farmville is not worth the loss of the bonds of friendship and a family’s love.

Facebook has revolutionized our society’s cultural norms by making our friends much closer to us. We no longer need to sift through developed photographs to see what happened at the latest social function, because the click of a mouse can do that in a matter of seconds. Staying in touch with a long lost friend is as simple as a friend request or wall post. This convenience comes at a price though. Lower grades and lack of familial communication is certainly not something to scoff at. Managing our time on Facebook is key to not only accepting this social tool, but maintaining our real-life relationships and grades, as well.