Spell "trouble": S-T-A-T-U-S U-P-D-A-T-E-S

I know that you're only reading this entry because my amazing work of art has caught your attention, so I won't keep you long. Anti-Facebook blog sickfacebook.com quoted Australian psychologist Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg as saying that people who post status updates (and tweets) "could be suffering from insecurity... [they're] sending a message out to everybody that rather than just quietly getting on with what [they're] doing [they] need external recognition.” OUCH! I didn't see that one coming. As if it weren't enough, he went on to explain further that status updates crying or implying depression shows attention-deficit behavior.“This is a digital SOS. They can be very, very upsetting when you send out something and you get absolutely nothing back," he said.

I know that the guy means well. In fact, I totally understand how dangerous status updates get. Perverts and players can get the wrong (or right) signals, as singles put themselves at risk of sounding desperate for a little romance--which is pretty much like handing your house keys to a thief, with your address attached. Employees getting sacked, cheating husbands busted, and a soldier botching a raid by unwittingly leaking information via his Facebook status update are only a few examples. Not only that. Status updates destroy friendships, too. I know someone who knows someone who thought that a friend's status was directed at him. I can't blame him for overreacting, though, as many use tweets and statuses for cyber bullying or "flaming." (In Dr. Carr-Gregg's book Real Wired Child, he provides practical tips for parents in guiding their teens' online communications, social networking, web surfing, downloading, and gaming activities to ensure their well-being in cyberspace.)

Anyway, Dr. Carr-Gregg's study found that our status updates reveal more about us than we think, even more than all the things we write in our profiles combined. Affected yet? I wouldn't be too bothered, if I were you. He also said, "You could be forgiven for thinking no one cares [about you], but not everybody is online or checking their phone all the time.” It's just you, you insecure, attention-deficit, danger-hungry addict! See? You should really feel better now. lol