Since I saw “The Social Network” a couple months ago, I’ve been terrified. Terrified to go on my computer and know that without meaning to, muscle memory will open an Internet tab to Facebook. Terrified when I’m pretending to do work in the Law Library, and I see Facebook open on 13 out of 14 computers. Terrified that Facebook has begun to take over the world and that Mark Zuckerberg and his team don't appear to be stopping any time soon.

First, let’s quickly consider exactly what Facebook is. A fun social network that has changed the way we interact with the world? Yes — but that’s what they want you to think. It doesn't take any stretch of the imagination to see Facebook for what it really is: an enormous company that 1 in 13 people in the world entrust with their personal identities, interests and relationships. It’s a website on which we say, “Here’s what I like, now sell me something.” In short, it's the greatest marketing tool ever created.

Facebook’s power as a personalized advertisement generator may be ingenious, but recent events in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya demonstrate that its history-altering, political power is utterly mind-blowing. While Twitter sustained rebellion movements, their beginnings were on Facebook as groups and events. After the historic events in Egypt this February, my political science professor even titled a lecture “From Facebook to Tahir Square.” Facebook’s power terrified the Syrian regime after thousands of users clicked “attending” the Days of Rage protests against the government.

Facebook’s power to mobilize the masses — especially youth — is clear. I truly believe that Mark Zuckerberg has the power to overthrow an unstable regime. It may sound outlandish, but hear me out. First, Zuckerberg could create a Facebook event, or several events, for protests. Unlike other organizers who can only reach a portion of Facebook users, he could send multiple event invitations to every user in a region or country. Then, he could constantly bombard invitees with messages reminding them to attend protests and encouraging rebellion — including plans for a new Zuckerberg-headed government after the current regime is ousted. As unlikely as this is, it wouldn’t take Zuckerberg more than a few minutes and mouse clicks to organize.

Aside from government-destroying conspiracy theories, recent miniscule changes to Facebook illustrate its ability to dominate. As of recently, Facebook users now simply hit the “enter” key to post comments and other notifications, instead of clicking a “post” button. Also, the picture viewing application now hovers over the user's current page, instead of existing as a separate page.

While these changes may seem insignificant, closer examination reveals the motives behind them. Instead of having to move your hands to post a comment, fractions of a second are shaved off the action by simply clicking “enter.” Multiply these fractions of seconds by Facebook’s 500 million users, and that equals thousands of added hours of surfing. Being able to see another page underneath the photo application allows Facebook users to return to the profitable pages more quickly. These benefits emphasize Facebook’s agenda: to get users on Facebook more frequently, to keep them on for longer and to view as many advertisements on as many pages as possible.

A less recent change to Facebook is what I find most troubling. I, like most students, was subjected to friends’ constant whining about Facebook’s decision to show pictures for its instant message feature instead of listing friends' names. At first, I couldn't think of any reason why the change had been made. It was more confusing and less user-friendly — usually the opposite of Facebook’s updates.

As I thought about it more, however, it was a brilliant move. Though it bothers users, the change forces them to memorize their friend’s profile pictures in order to chat efficiently. That way, at some subconscious level, we’re basing recognition of a users' presence in terms of their profile picture, not their name. Zuckerberg wants the world to think in terms of Facebook — profile pictures and statuses — in lieu of names and voices.

However paranoid I may be, along with more than 500 million others, I log on several times a day. Facebook wants to take over our lives, and we continue to help it do so.

Andrew Weiner is an assistant editorial page editor.