Monday, February 22, 2010

To Facebook or Not to Facebook: What’s the Right Social Network For You?

“You have to join Facebook, Margaret,” Heather insisted to my other fifty-year old friend after she lamented that she couldn’t keep up with what her kids or other friends were doing. According to iStrategyLabs in Washington, D.C., “the fastest-growing segments on Facebook are Gen Xers nearing age 40 and baby boomers pushing 60” (Scientific American Mind, Jan/Feb 2010).

Since its launch at Harvard University in 2004, Facebook’s memebership has swollen to over 250 million people in 170 countries and territories, beating out MySpace (with 125 million users), LinkedIn (a site for professionals), and Twitter.

The millions of social-network users are engaged in the largest experiment in social interaction ever conducted, says David Disalvo of Scientific American Mind (Jan/Feb 2010).

I started my Facebook account two years ago, in 2007, and confess I was initially on there daily, trying out all the applications, and I mean ALL of them, even the silly ones. I was trading messages, pokes, virtual gifts, insults, and all kinds of stuff with old and new friends. Back then, most of my existing close friends weren’t on Facebook yet—didn’t even know it existed—and I networked mostly with business colleagues and blogging friends from all over the world, many who I had never met. I had also joined three blogging communities, MyBlogLog and Blog Catalog and StumbleUpon. All three provided me with access to other like-minded people who also authored blogs. It was, in fact this community of bloggers who I later met again on Facebook, after we’d already established a good friendship through our blogs and associated networking community.


Social networks are an amazing way to meet and form meaningful relationships with people of like minds. Some networks work better at this than others. In fact, Facebook is a network that works best for people who already know each other. I don’t find it a good place to meet a stranger, per se, because it isn’t focused enough and doesn’t provide adequate filters. It’s like meeting someone at the local bar—without the benefit of having a drink! Now, where’s the fun in that? I’d much rather meet that person face-to-face, where all my senses are able to exercise themselves. That’s what I like about the blogging communities: everyone there is a blogger like me and I can go to their blog to find out an awful lot about whether they’re interesting and worth me sharing an online relationship with. My son belongs to a social network devoted to skiing. Of course, it isn’t just a sport; it’s a sub-culture. And that social network has allowed him to find a group of cool friends who share his passion, and speak the same language.

Social networking has freed us of the fetters and limitations of geography. It doesn’t matter anymore what side of the river you live on, or what you look like. What’s important is your mind and your heart. Social networks provide an even playing ground for minds to interact. I know of several people who formed a relationship online through a social network and have gone on to meet in person and become great friends.

So, Margaret… What are you waiting for?...





Nina Munteanu is an ecologist and internationally published author of novels, short stories and essays. She coaches writers and teaches writing at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. For more about Nina’s coaching & workshops visit www.ninamunteanu.me. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for more about her writing.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hahahahaha!

I am waiting for hell to freeze over! Hahahahaha

Honestly, I couldn't afford the time that is required to keep up with Facebook, or should I say I would rather do other things with my time!

I love to socialize face-to-face and can manage to keep up with the few people that I do correspond with electronically via email, google chat and the occassional blog post.

Life in the flesh is complicated enough without a lot of extra electronic threads to keep track of...!

For now...Facebook is not on my list of things to do....and last I heard, hell is still pretty hot!

Hahahahaha

Baby Brie

Nina Munteanu said...

Ooh... ooh.... :)

Well, Margaret, with climate change warming up the Poles, I think you'll be waiting a long time, indeed!

Meantime, I keep hearing the word Facebook in the pubs I eat in and see young and old checking their iphones or other devices for Facebook news... It is indeed one giant experiment in social interaction...

Meantime, I guess I'll be talking to you on the phone or google-chat, Margaret... :)

tmy said...

Yesterday, I finally dipped my toes into the water of the Facebook social experiment and set up a page...
I guess I fall right into the parameters of the biggest social experiment, and coming in late in the game puts me right into the largest part of the bell curve!
The reason I did this is that I have been researching the marketing aspect of the internet (I recently set up my artwork on a group printing site for artists) and I've found out that Facebook is the recommended arena to bring traffic to any secondary marketing URL.
I have yet to investigate all the aspects of Facebook that provide this type of linking, but since the data overwhelming supports it as a major tool for SEO, I can hardly see how Facebook could be dismissed as a social networking phenomenom.

Diane Dehler said...

I started to facebook lately and it is fun. However, you do have to think about whom you want to invite into your private sphere; family photos and all. Maybe it's a good idea to have more than one account.

Nina Munteanu said...

Yes, TMY, I've heard (and experienced) what you speak of (we need to chat about this over a coffee...soon... :)

Princess, you speak wisely, as usual... more than one account with different levels of privacy based on intent and usage. Very wise, indeed...

Jean-Luc Picard said...

There can't be many who aren't in Facebook. I think all my office is! It's a great way of keeping in touich, be they a mile away or the other side of the world.

Nina Munteanu said...

Yes, Jean-Luc, young and old are on Facebook. I hear its name uttered in every crowd I'm in--okay, in the bars...

:)

Limberger, thanks for your diatribe. :) You give some great advice, especially near the end. The key to any tool's success is linking its utility to the motives of its user. However, as you mentioned, it is best to understand both its potential and its limitations. In the case of Facebook, which is a communication/social networking tool,the risks are associated with the very same things that make it attractive to users. It is open to anyone and almost anything. Its nondiscriminatory platform is its very advantage and disadvantage. Like with anything complex. For instance, if you're a very private and extremely sensitive person then why on Earth would you be on Facebook and risk possible abuse? If, on the other hand your prime motive is exposure and you don't care if it generates good or bad publicity--so long as it is PUBLICITY--then go for the gusto and Facebook, Facebook, Facebook!

オテモヤン said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Nina Munteanu said...

p.s., as for who's behind Toulouse's adventures... Well, I'm so glad you mentioned that little scamp! Being his trusty travel companion, I must lament that I am often "behind" him... chasing after him as he frolicks effortlessly up endless staircases or "loses" himself in a funky liquor store or fancy mall...

see these links for instance:
http://sfgirl-thealiennextdoor.blogspot.com/2009/11/somerset-collection-toulouse-gets-lost.html

http://sfgirl-thealiennextdoor.blogspot.com/2008/07/america-youre-beautifulpart-2.html

He even got his own blog! Here: http://www.toulouseletrek.com. Go check it out and bug him with comments! :-D

Oh... speaking of Facebook, Toulouse is also on Facebook (and last I checked, I think he has more friends than I do! LOL! ... Go figure... He's French): http://www.facebook.com/people/Toulouse-LeTrek/100000202794755