The more I watch the Discovery Channel, the more I feel like I’m watching the latest season of “The Real World.”The similarities between man and beast are, in many ways, uncanny. And the more I see wild animals interact, the less I think we’ve really changed.No matter where an animal lies on the evolutionary ladder, they’re always conscientious of impressing and attracting the attention of their fellow species and potential mates.In the animal kingdom, they call it signaling.We Homo sapiens call it Facebook.Perhaps that’s why so many profile pictures contain blaring images of surgically enhanced cleavage.So far, I’m not complaining.But unlike many of its users, Facebook is growing up (or sagging down, if you will).Facebook’s 35- to 54-year-old demographic has had a 276.4 percent growth rate over the last six months, according to Facebook data. The 55-and-older demographic is not far behind with a 194.3 percent growth rate.It might be hard to accept, but it’s true. Facebook has evolved. We all felt it that fateful day when we received “friend requests” from our own parents and had to rush through all our photo albums deleting every inappropriate comment and footnote in sight.And if you haven’t gotten a friend request from your grandparents yet, get ready.It may be true Facebook has lost a bit of its original luster now that it has been marauded by middle-aged menopausers.But that doesn’t mean the site will croak over any time soon.Bob Dylan was right. The times, they are a-changing.Today, almost everything anyone could want to know about a person is a mere click away. That’s why it’s important to remember our newer audience — the older audience — every time we update our account.This is especially true of more serious social and political topics.One of Facebook’s growing trends has been polling features, like “My Polls,” which enable users to share their views on many of today’s leading issues.In one click, users can put their beliefs on display without one iota of intelligent thought or consideration.The same idea is expressed by increasingly popular groups like “We Hate Barack Obama” or “F*** George Bush,” which allow people to express something without really saying anything at all.Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong about acquiring these digital bumper stickers.But they do send a glaring signal. And that signal is called “stupidity.”That’s why it’s important we place more value in our ability to support our beliefs with reason and evidence rather than granting a false sense of legitimacy to people who hold uninformed opinions.Anybody can hold an opinion. Very few, however, can back it up.Whether we realize it, the digital age has made our lives into one giant billboard. Our personal lives are now a public exhibit. And every click of a mouse is like a stroke of a brush, painting an elaborate self-portrait virtually anybody can see.But this freedom of expression comes with a certain level of accountability.Nowadays, it’s not only our friends who get to see what we think about “NAZI OBAMA TRYIN TWO F****** BRAINE WASH ALL US!” or how we are “SO ExCiTeD aBoUt GeTtInG WaY-StEd tWoNiGhT!”It’s our parents. Our grandparents. Our potential employers.Today we have the freedom to hold a figurative loudspeaker and say anything we want. But freedom of speech doesn’t free us from consequences of our speech.Even animals realize the significance of their actions.So the next time you post something, make sure you consider what kind of signal you’re really sending.Scott Burns is a 20-year-old history and business junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him at Twitter @TDR_sburns.
 
 
 
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