I have a feeling that, like many of you, this whole Facebook thing started out innocently enough. My kids wanted a page, and I wanted to be sure it was kosher. We have all heard how Universities are now checking Facebook pages, creeps can quickly become "friends" with your unsuspecting child, and frankly, kids can be stupid and put things on their page without thinking about how it may sound to others. More recently, I moved from caring about my kid's pages (one isn't even on Facebook anymore) and just reconnected with old (or I like the word historic better) friends, distant cousins, aunts and more. I love knowing that "all is well" without having to wait for the token Christmas card. Speaking of Christmas cards, why bother when all of your friends have seen the best possible photos of you and your family? I guess most of us like to open the envelope and actually see it printed and keep it in our (un-done) photo books.
The questions for me came when I realized that every time I "log on" or open some kind of account, they ask me if I want it "linked" to my Facebook. NO! Most of my friends couldn't care less when I walk through the door of the local pizza place or that I have read something in the Wall Street Journal. Speaking of articles, just a little ditty for you who think they are reading something on the internet and no one knows. Facebook has recently started posting articles that my "friends" have read. For the most part, who cares right? However, when a man from the church is reading about Jessica Simpson's baby bump or a teacher is reading a political article of some sort, it's hard not to judge. A friend recently told me that her friend started a conversation with, "I saw on "little Ricky's" Facebook page that…" which left her thinking…Do my friends police my kid's pages? There are some barriers we all must get over when using the site. Many of my peeps turn off their chat so it never looks like they are "on" when in fact they are. It's always good to remember that character is who you are when you think no one is watching!
Aside from the question of privacy, ads, and the basic "cool" factor (My Space who?), can Facebook last? As the 16 billion dollar IPO looms Friday, you may be asking "Should I go all in"? The fact is, lucky for you, this is not an investment advice blog. Personally I find it pretty amazing that they now have close to 1 billion users. I have a "twitter" account but I NEVER use it…NONE of my friends "tweet" (YES people I have accidentally used the past tense of this word!!) and most of them are on Facebook. Sure, when I blog, I send out an email that goes to a few friends who "don't really use Facebook much" or at all. I feel like my generation is the "sandwich" generation when it comes to technology. Most of our parents are not super stars on the computer, but our kids are incredible. My junior high had a "computer room" with 3 huge computers. We had about 30 minutes per week and we thought we were super cool when we got to use them. Now, there are I-PAD schools! My sons could not get through school without good, working computers. My kids truly don't know life without them.
The bottom line is this…Facebook keeps us feeling connected and it is an inevitable part of my world. It's free to use although the ads may drive you nuts…Mark Zuckerberg and his hoodies make my skin crawl BUT his IPO could save the state of California! (haha…sorry Greece…uh I mean CA) but I say STAY TUNED…Friday could be a fun ride!
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