The Rhetoric of the Facebook Status

It’s hard nowadays to find someone without a Facebook account. With the rapid digitalization of society and communication, Facebook becomes a necessary avenue to explore instances of rhetoric and rhetorical situations. As Bizzel and Herzberg mention in their anthology, “Our learning comes from interpretation, our discipline grows by argument, and our communities cohere by persuasion... (p. 15).” Highlighting primarily the end part of the quote, Facebook statuses allow vast digital communities to form, from the persuasion of a certain tool over another that “Google maps app > Iphone maps app” to joining a friend on a health food diet by the persuasive rhetoric used by the status “On a lemon kick. Lemon everything! It’s a natural antiseptic and full of vitamin C. Use ‘em!” While in earlier rhetorical history the movement from oration to written word proved to be harmful to rhetoric in that “sensual power of the word diminished in written form” (pg. 6), I would argue that today written word can be equally as powerful as oration in the rhetoric strength of persuasion, and with the digitalization of content and dialogue, proves to be an important element to use when attempting to persuade. 

For example, if I were to need to persuade as many people to come to a professional event, I would post on Facebook a status that used professional language and a certain style of rhetoric to convince Facebookers to join my event, whereas if I simply attempted to get the word out by word of mouth, I would certainly fail in my attempt to publicize the event. If I were to want my friends to join me at my party, I would not follow the professional language rhetoric I used but rather a less formal language to attempt to publicize my party. As Bitzer said in his article, the rhetorical situation is essentially a problem that needs to be solved through oration and the help of others. The evolving society that leans heavily on the Internet and technology has made the rhetorical situation, in a sense, easier to solve, because now a status like “Anyone have a multimeter I could borrow tomorrow” reaches a vast audience and prompts a quick and simple answer that solves the problem. 

Some, however, may argue that while the Facebook status is a way of communication, it fails to be rhetorical in nature. I would argue that by using the historical evidence of parts of rhetoric, such as style as “attractive verbal garb,” as well as the Sophist claim that all language is rhetorical (pg 5), all Facebook statuses have intent behind them and thus are rhetorical in nature. Even the someone mundane status of “Halfway done with my shift...need more caffeine” implies that this man a.) has a job, b.) enjoys coffee and uses it as a mechanism for staying awake and alert, and c.) has now told all that in a little while he will be done with work and would be available. Additionally, because “the rhetorical situation is solved through the process of public reflection,” (Bizzel and Herzberg, p. 14) this man’s status prompted encouraging answers from friends that admired his stamina and offered words of encouragement. The audience of Facebook is always waiting to hear from the rhetorical orator, that, with his or her Facebook status, seeks the answer to their rhetorical situation at the time.