I was on them for a while but got tired of sitting staring at a screen. So I deleted both. No you’re not the only young person not on it. I have no cell phone either. This will change in the future but there is no immediate need for them. I just feel basically the same way. If someone really wants to talk to me and they are desperate they can email or phone or fax.

Sorry this post is late. Just found your blog. Cheers!

It’s to keep track of my friends. I’m very very busy and I can see at a glance what my friends are doing, where they are, etc. I can drop them a line or two to keep in touch.

Here’s some examples as to why we – from a business POV – need to consider Facebook as more than a timewaster:

1. A buddy of mine is a publisher who hosts events for book launches, and has created groups around readings and his albeit small press which he relies upon to spread the word about upcoming events and book launches.

2. Look at Virginia Tech and how Facebook became a powerful vehicle to communicate information during and following this tragedy – not least how media also relied on this site to feed their own stories as well.

I agree – it is a time waster… but it’s what the decision-makers of tomorrow are using now, and will continue to use, so we need to understand what that means.

Best

brendan

I also don’t see it as a valuable means of communication for my clients. Some politicians have pages set up to “connect” with their constituents. For me, that’s just another way for them to hide and not do things the old fashioned, harder way like attending events, going door to door, being at the office to meet with locals.

The internet was viewed the way you described- I vaguely remember that. But let’s face it- 90% of the stuff you do online IS time-sucking. Facebook is just another way to occupy your time.

Employees that use Facebook at work aren’t using it for work; they’re looking for people, posting messages and playing around. All of your co-workers might be on Facebook too, but that doesn’t mean it’s an effective way to communicate with them. If they’re not online, they’re not seeing your message anyways. What happenned to email? What happenned to the phone? What happenned to walking down the hall?

Facebook might not be a fad. In fact, if it’s JUST as big or bigger one year from now, I’ll buy you a pint of Guiness.

But another quality time waster is going to come around and people are lemmings- they’ll jump right onto the new bandwagon and the only people still on Facebook will be stalkers and nerds.

If I’m right, I like vodka and cranberry juice with lime.

I, for one, am not prepared to dismiss anything as a fad just yet. Social networking is here to stay, though the flavour may change from Friendster to MySpace to Facebook to the next thing.

I’ve found it pays to keep on open mind in our business and understand various modes of communication. Even the ones we’re not interested in participating in could be of interest and value to your clients.

People were wasting time at work long before the Internet came around. Does anyone play solitaire on Windows any more?

I agree with Ontario for doing what they did. More businesses should follow in their footsteps.

Dave- I would advise my clients to know about Facebook and how it works. It’s a toy, not a tool and they don’t need to be completely engaged in it to understand it.

I think the Ontario Government made a smart move today when they banned it for employees- I don’t pay their salary to have them spend their days looking up old girlfriends!

Bottom line, it’s a waste of time for kids, teens and especially adults.

It may be a fad but it’s one that has had a significant impact, in the past people from the past generally stayed there…