Social Networking Part 1

Finally something I know a little bit about!

I have a Facebook profile, and before that I had (or have, but don't use anymore) a MySpace profile. I jumped on board the social newtowkring scene - aka - MySpace when I went overseas for 6 months. I was told it was the best way to keep in contact with friends back home. Then I was introduced to Facebook. Everyone else was doing it, so I did it too. For the first 5 minutes it was exciting, and now I check it about once a week and the people I e-mail or write on their walls are the people I don't see often. Plus I get to see pictures of friends at parites and overseas and on occasion a decent photo of myself at various functions.

I like Facebook. I think it does help people stay connected, plus the easy of use is a bonus for people like my mother who is not that computer savvy (says she!). I am also not opposed to the updates that Facebook have implemented, which the "masses" have decided to complain about, and at the end of the day am I (we) entitled to an opinion on how someone else wants to run their website?

I work for a large call-centre company and though Facebook is banned in the call centres, it is a fantastic and encouraged tool for our @home call centre teams (which we have several) to interact with other @home people, have their own "groups"on Facebook and generally be able to see who each other is, via photos etc. Working from home I imagine must be a lonely job, so having an application like Facebook to post pictures of yourself and your family, is similar to sitting next to each other at a call centre, and sharing your stories between calls - well sort of.

The down side to Facebook is of course the freedom to download pictures etc of not only yourself but of other people in less than appealing circumstances, which if you are unhappy about a certain picture/file/random piece of text you can complain, but by the time it is removed how many people have seen the photo of you passed out in the street?

There are controls on Facebook such as closing your profile only to those you want to, but if you have added your mum/dad/relative as a "friend" they will most likely be able to view said photo.

Another downside is these public forums where we talk about ourselves and our friends, can sometimes come back to bit us when we apply for jobs. I overheard an interview one day where a potential employer asked whether the potential employee had a Facebook/Myspace/other Page, which she hesitantly replied 'yes' to. Now, if that employer, does a check on her and does not like what they see on her "socail networking" pages, do you really think you will be asked back for that 2nd interview?

So while Facebook and other social networking pages are fun and help you keep up-to-date with everyone, are we sharing too much with the world?