Teens Debate Future of Facebook and Other Top Comments

What's This?

By Danielle Odiamar2013-08-17 11:57:15 -0400

Everyone's got opinions. That was clear from this week's most commented on stories. Three separate op-eds had Mashable readers in a tizzy.

The week kicked off with 13-year-old Ruby Karp stirring up a heated discussion with her piece, "I'm 13 and None of My Friends Use Facebook."

The controversial opinion had many Facebook loyalists not only disagreeing, but also using Karp's age to dismiss her despite her writing experience. Some even expressed doubt that she wrote the article, claiming that someone her age was incapable of such a piece.

See also: 7 Top Social Networks Among American Teens

Other commenters found Karp's perspective refreshing, pointing out that even some people in their 20s, 30s and older agreed with her point of view. Instead of tearing her down, many applauded her for representing the youth voice and encouraged her to pursue her writing.

In response to Karp's controversial column, 15-year-old Adora Svitak wrote her own op-ed with the counter title "I'm 15 and All of My Friends Use Facebook."

Despite Svitak's pro-Facebook stance, commenters still took jabs at the writer's age. But credit was duly given; commenters took note that Svitak had several notable accomplishments. Others noted that her op-ed was well-supported with facts and details.

No matter what side readers took, the two articles revealed a major divide on the opinions of Facebook within the teen generation, leaving the question, "What is Facebook's future amongst the next generation?"

The third op-ed came from Mashable Editor in Chief, Lance Ulanoff, who wrote a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook discussing his own concerns with Apple's pace of innovation. The tough love had readers jumping to Apple's defense and just as many virtually high-fiving Ulanoff for his criticism.

While everyone was busy fighting about the future of the two biggest tech companies around, a clever photo of Bo, the White House dog, started circulating with a clever caption. Though some readers made the discussion political, the harmless joke was generally well received by those who understood the reference to Mean Girls. The viral image had people applauding the White House's social media team for the joke.

Homepage Image: Flickr, falkowata

Topics: comments, Conversations, Facebook, Social Media, teens