Okay, I'll admit it. I'm late to the whole social networking phenomenon. Frankly, I was always a bit jealous when people talked about their Facebook pages. I didn't have the time to make a Facebook page, let alone keep it up to date with clever and witty observations from my extraordinarily exciting day washing clothes and playing Candyland with my three-year-old son. Although I do appreciate getting stuck in the Chocolate Swamp as much as the next person, it didn't seem like the kind of information I would share with the world.
But then we started examining social networking from a strategic point of view here at Info Directions and in the name of research, I found the time and established a Facebook page. I must admit, not only am I hooked, but I can actually see the value in this world of blurbs, quick remarks and both active and passive connections. I soon realized my comments about Candyland would be right at home alongside my friend's publishing announcement for her new book and my former co-worker's picture of her daughter at a dance recital.
Social networking is not about what you know or even who you know, it's about relating in a world where time is our most valuable personal resource and where the demands of our lives often overshadow our ability to reach out and make someone's day a little brighter. I love my friends and want to see them, it is simply a matter of time -- time that, with two kids under three, I never seem to have. So I am just grateful for the opportunity to log in and see what my friends are doing, to electronically bond with those with whom I have lost touch, and see a side of my co-workers that adds another dimension to our work relationship. I always get a laugh and I always feel more a part of the world after a quick Facebook fix. I won't mention by addiction to WordTwist.
So, am I ready to stop calling my friends and talking to them live? No, of course not. I love to talk far too much for that! But until I have a spare hour to do that I can at least share some photos, send them a cool piece of flair to let them know I was thinking about them, and still feel connected to them on a daily basis. I know more about my friends' lives now than I did a month ago before my foray into Facebook. And that's meaningful to me.
I consider myself a realist and maybe even a bit of a skeptic (No, dear husband, the toothpaste with the irridescent packaging does not mean it's better!), but I do feel we are crossing that chasm in the mobile world where applications are driving adoption of technology and not the other way around. Facebook is compelling; it makes me seriously think about a phone upgrade that would let me use it more than just a few minutes every night on my home computer. I want to take it with me, I want to know the minute my friend's book hits Amazon. I want to know, now. For everyone out there, your Facebook-type application is waiting. And when you find it, your upgraded mobile phone will be waiting, too.
NEWS FEED: Stacey is consistently being beaten by her three-year-old at Candyland. She thinks he cheats.