The Facebook Generation
Ten years from now when we look back on web 2.0 - who knows if it'll be web 10.0 by then - and the proliferation of social networking sites, we'll fondly remember the Facebook generation. A time when not one single conversation didn't begin with, "Are you on Facebook?"
It's true - everyone and my mother is on Facebook except for myself. And I've made a resolute decision that I will never join Facebook nor any similar social networking site except for LinkedIn, a professional networking site, which I consider to be useful.
Facebook is like virtual high school for people of all ages where the number of friends you have in your profile becomes a measure of your popularity. It's easy to see how people can get so obsessed with Facebook. Sure it allows friends to keep in touch with one another and meet new friends, but everyone knows the real reason for the obsession is being able to check out profiles of people you sort of know, like that guy or girl you met at that party and are crushing on or finding out what your co-workers are really like after business hours. Its almost like seeing those tabloids at the checkout aisles and secretly reading the gossip on the front pages, but better because you can do it all on your computer at home.
I don't care if I'm considered uncool or not hip because I'm not on Facebook. Frankly I just don't want to waste my time with it. I'm over it. I have been for a long time when Friendster first appeared on the scene and then it was MySpace and before I knew it - Facebook. I still have my Friendster account, but it's just been collecting dust over the past few years. It's inevitable. One day Facebook will become Friendster and something else will replace it. Maybe it'll be called "All About Me." Instead of discovering the next Facebook, whiz kids should figure out a way to share profiles on multiple social networking sites.
One thing's for sure, social networking sites will continue to exist in one form or another. There's even one for people who live in Bangalore called Babalife. What's unique about this site is that it connects members who are looking for employees to those who are looking for employers on it's companion site - Babajob.com. The site connects India's wealthy to the poor who lack the connections to find the jobs they need. Members on Babalife may ask friends for referrals, which lead them to people they know with a profile on Babajob.
Another example of a social networking site that aims to do good is GiveMeaning.com which provides the means for people to raise money for an issue they care about, such as caring for the homeless or cleaning up the environment.
Hopefully a new trend will develop with the creation of social networking sites whose mission is to work towards a social cause and give back to the community.
Hi Michelle, Sherry was resistant, too, but she eventually joined and uses it everyday now. I'm not here to persuade you, but I should point out that Facebook, unlike Friendster, doesn't allow other people to view your profile unless you're friends or part of a network together, and it offers a lot of interesting applications that Friendster doesn't.
With facebook, I don't try to add as many people as possible. (On the other hand, I added as many people as I could in linkedIn). It's more useful if you only add people you know or are concerned about. The best thing about facebook is the newsfeed, which aggregates news on your friends. If you add people you don't care about, then the newsfeed won't be worthwhile. I used friendster in the past, and that site was/is totally worthless. I never used myspace because it wasn't well designed.
I really do think facebook is a good way to keep up with what people are doing without having to explicitly email them. This is useful for keeping up with those friends that you aren't as close to.
You should try it out before making a judgement on it.
Yes, it's a good way to keep in touch with friends, but there are other ways too such as email, blogs, or phone calls. I spend a lot of time on the computer as it is and I can see Facebook involving even more of my time, which I'd rather spend on something else. Just my opinion.
I am like a few weeks late with this comment, but here goes. I hesitated with facebook at first because like you, I thought it was just another stupid friendster site. I created a facebook account for work purposes and I have to say that I am super impress with the web 2.0 technologies. It's overwhelming at first and half the applications are probably silly. But they make it so easy to use that you'll want to use try it. I would say it's even more convenient than emailing. Lately, I found myself emailing my friends through facebook rather than an old fashion email app. Not to mention that they also have spaces for your photo gallery AND it's free! Facebook is setting the standard for social networking and you'll find more and more sites will use facebook as a model for other site. I go on facebook almost everyday and I've logged on to friendster a total of maybe 8 times since I created an account with them. I think the two sites can't even compare. If for anything, you should create an account and check out their technology.