The founder and CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, recently wrote about the site's popularity on his own Facebook page. "If Facebook were a country, it would be the eighth most populated in the world, just ahead of Japan, Russia and Nigeria," Zuckerberg noted. The site allows users to set up a profile, complete with as much personal information as desired. Then users ask others on the network to become their Facebook friends.
Kathryn Brown, a freelance writer and mother of two young daughters, vowed to steer clear of "social networking sites, fearing that it would send the wrong message to potential clients," she explained. "You never know how these pages will be interpreted.
"I signed on, with reservations, to get news about an upcoming Charleston High School class reunion. After reconnecting with so many old friends, I realized that I had allowed too many people to drift out of my life. I'm trying to make up for years of not maintaining relationships that were healthy. I simply got busy and wrapped up in mortgages, meatloaf and minivans. I disappeared after going headfirst into career and then motherhood," Brown said. "Facebook is a wonderful, virtual playground for adults who have responsibilities that prohibit them from going out and mingling with people on a regular basis. As a wife and mother who spends most of her time at home, being able to scribble on someone's wall or view their photo albums makes me feel connected to the outside world."
Meg Stallard, a self-proclaimed "social butterfly," former elementary schoolteacher and mother of two toddlers, has more than 570 friends on her Facebook page. She uses it to stay in touch with friends, as well as to line up babysitters when necessary. "I am online with many of my old 'tech-savvy' students who are now in high school. I am also friends with their parents," she said. She loves the connections made possible by the Web site.
Diana Sole, president of MotionMasters and mother of three children ages 24, 22, and 14, set up her account a couple of years ago when she was working on her MBA and all of the "traditional age" students were talking about their pages.
"My son, Chris, is 24 and doesn't use Facebook much, but his wife keeps in touch with a lot of their friends that way. I haven't mustered the courage to ask if she'd like to be friends with her mother-in-law yet. But I know she really likes keeping connected through Facebook, especially since they live in Los Angeles. I also haven't had the courage to ask my 14-year-old daughter!"
Many people get creative with their Facebook photos, changing them frequently and showcasing interesting moments in their lives. Tabit's recent photo features her on her way to the Obama inaugural, but last month's picture showed her with West Virginia University basketball coach Bob Huggins.
"Facebook is definitely a business tool, but I use LinkedIn as more of the 'professional' tool. I don't add folks to my Facebook account unless I know them more informally," James said. "I do not share things on Facebook or other tools that would embarrass me, although I'm sure there are times certain folks don't get my style of humor."
"One of the neatest Facebook adventures was reconnecting with someone I used to work with almost 20 years ago," Smallridge said. "Likewise, I found an old college friend who now lives in Greece and it's been great bridging 26 years since graduation."
Source:http://wvgazette.com/HomeandStyle/200901290832
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