'Unfriend' named Oxford Dict. Word of the year

'Unfriend' named Oxford Dictionary 2009 Word of the Year

Earlier this week, the New Oxford American Dictionary unveiled "unfriend" as the 2009 Word of the Year, providing the following definition and application:

• unfriend - verb - To remove someone as a friend on a social networking site such as Facebook.
  As in, I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.

Clear enough. But what does it say about us that "unfriend" was the word chosen to sum up 2009? What are the implications behind the action itself and the role of Facebook?

Usually a break in relationship involves some face-to-face interaction, discussion, maybe an argument or tears. And a period of getting over hurt feelings on both sides. Maybe this ends in reconciliation, maybe not.

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