I have to admit, I didn’t get Facebook at first. I was pretty early on Facebook in my sliver of the social graph, but it had even less appeal to me than MySpace did. But as more and more friends got on that’s when the magic started happening. Facebook’s killer feature is you’re friends, family and colleges. It’s the new email.
Speaking of family, I never thought I would like the idea of my family being on Facebook. Turns out, it’s probably one of the things I love most about it. I get to keep up with close family, cousins and even distant relatives in Germany, one of whom just found me on Facebook today. From a town of 630 people!
Facebook has become an important part of how I communicate. I probably get as much, if not more of my contact with people through Facebook these days. So much so that I have to check it a couple of times a day just in case one of the many projects I manage have an update through the service.
Facebook really doesn’t do all that much. It’s probably very sophisticated code, but the features of Facebook are like a forum in reverse. Instead of viewing discussions, you view profiles and you have discussions on them. But features isn’t what Facebook is about. It’s all about your contacts. That’s why, out of all the new services I’ve seen spring up Facebook might have the best chance of long shelf life. Because your best friend from school is on there. Your brothers, sisters, parents, cousins and extended family are on there. Your co-workers, clients and vendors are on there. It’s email 2.0.
Some articles have said that Facebook is mostly about “weak ties” type relationships. But I think it’s making many of my relationships stronger. I get to keep up with people I care about in a way that I couldn’t otherwise. We all have busy lives but it’s very nice to keep up with what’s happening in the lives. It’s also brought me closer to friends in real life. Not only do I see what’s going on with people I don’t get to see often but because of Facebook I’m also meeting up with more friends for lunches or dinner or just to hang out.
All in all, I’m glad something like Facebook exists.
Agreed. Facebook is so powerful… I can search for people that I haven’t seen in 12 years and find them. I plan to do that when I have time and just say hi.