Facebook, LinkedIn, and Ning...Oh my!

               I first joined Facebook in 2009. After about 35 years of avoiding my 8^th grade class, I finally heeded the advice of a classmate’s parent. Since I was the technology type, I should be the one to track down all 72 graduates. I will say that I hesitated about joining Facebook; I knew of Facebook through students and my children. For my son, he joined in college; my daughter joined while still in high school. Students tried to invite me, but I declined. All social networks were frowned upon by my administration. It took the sudden surge in on-line bullying for them to change their tune. At a Faculty meeting, our Assistant Principal dove in. He tried to friend his own son, who quickly declined him.

                I have seen Facebook on many levels. I have found about 45 of my former schoolmates. What I forgot to consider is that we’re all grown up, and with that came the maturity we all lacked. I started an alumni page, which led to pictures being posted, and stories being shared. From there, I found high school alumni: more stories, more pictures, and from them, more about what they do for a living. As for former students, my rule is that they must be out of high school for a full year. Many have friends that still go to the school, so I ask them to wait. I discovered that, at least for me, that they look upon “friending” teachers much as I collected baseball cards. They seem to be interested in reaching levels: 500 friends, 1000 friends, or more.

                While many of my current students continue to use Facebook, their interest is waning. While they are not rushing to Twitter, they do mention Tumblr. I am sure that in five years, Facebook will not be the #1 Social Media Website it is today (E-biz MBA: http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social-networking-websites) . It is a sign of the times, and new generations reach college, they do not follow the likes of the previous age groups. What will save Facebook is the explosion of adults (especially baby boomers and Gen-Xers) who joined over the last few years. This group exchanges photos, run alumni and other events, and give advice. Some people exchange too much: 15 single photos at one sitting, or constant political views, force many to turn off (or unfriend) these individuals.

                LinkedIn is treated as Facebook’s more serious sibling. I joined LinkedIn about a year after Facebook. I find it to be perfect for those in the business world: those making contacts, and cultivating working relationships. Here, people don’t share photos of their children or videos of cats doing tricks. Here, we don’t “like,” we recommend. The people we meet are not matching up by school, but by job description. There a greater chance in LinkedIn that a request will come from someone you have never met (but who may know someone you know).

                I check my LinkedIn account much less than my Facebook account. Most of those on LinkedIn are also on Facebook, so I tend to think that there’s not much they’ll add to their LinkedIn account. LinkedIn allows another side of my contacts to show through.

                I do not use Ning. I look at Ning like a Honda driver looks at Toyota: I already have a vehicle, why do I need another. I did feel that way about my AOL account about 10 years ago. Today, I have 4 e-mails I monitor. They all have a specific use, and the AOL account has become my e-commerce account. It is inundated with spam and offers for all sorts of products. Maybe one day I will join Ning, but Facebook and LinkedIn both cover the uses I need for social networking.

                We still have a phone book that we use for all of our contacts. We have made an excel file of it, and use it for Christmas card labels. What social networking allows is to keep in touch more with those individuals you would only contact in December. People remain in your life that would normally disappear. Perhaps the next paper will ask if hanging on to these people is wise. Anyway, I have almost 200 Facebook Friends and 35 LinkedIn contacts. That, plus $2.25, will get me on the subway!