Facebook: How do YOU use it?

When I use a tool in one way, I sometimes forget that the way it is used is as unique as the person using it. I've recently had a few discussions with friends and acquaintances about Facebook. Here are a few uses that have come up in conversation.

Staying "In The Know"

I had lunch with a couple of high school friends this weekend and one thing they said stuck out. "Facebook makes the idea of a 10 year reunion pointless." While I would still love to see everyone in the flesh for a reunion, they make a good point. Facebook is a great way for staying informed on what your friends are doing. Same is true for a reunion, finding out what your friends have been up to. For my generation, it would be strange to see one of my fellow graduates not on Facebook.

Games/Entertainment
There are those that have a Facebook account, but the only thing that seems to bring them back there are their Farms, their Restaurants and Monopoly. You won't see any updates from them unless they need your help to unlock the next level!

                                      Business Page
One of my favorite uses of Facebook that I've seen recently has been by Tourism Nanaimo. They ran the "Amazing Nanaimo Getaways". It was a great way for people to see the things that Nanaimo has to offer and to bring some new people to the city. The only thing I didn't like about this contest was that I didn't win!

Daily Ritual

Yep, there are those people for which Facebook isn't an option. They log on every morning, noon and night. They don't live without it and it's their source for the news. They love to tell you exactly what they're doing and they are active on commenting and liking your posts.

There are so many different ways that Facebook is used. I actually don't fall into any of these categories. Do you?

Too Transparent?

Hello all!

It's been a while since I've sat down to write a blog post. I got the overwhelming urge to type tonight and have a topic!
Here we go!

So the other night, someone asked me to tell them a secret about me. Which I was all too willing to do... until I realized that I don't really have secrets. I'm a very open person. I share things. Lots of things... and outside of really personal things that I wouldn't tell my own mother I don't have secrets.

The question that came to mind from this is "Am I too transparent?"

When I was a teenager, I would go into chat rooms online. Random ones, I think there used to be a site called Talkcity.org (?? I think) that I would go chat in! I loved meeting new people.
I loved 'playing' 20 questions. A 'game' in which people ask questions back and forth until they've both asked the other 20 questions.
I found that you can tell more about the person by the questions they ask then the answers to the ones you ask.

Then Facebook came along and not only did I get to share what I thought and was feeling, I got to read others doing the same!
Then Twitter came along. Oh Twitter, I like you a lot. You allow me to connect with people and read about what they are thinking and feeling in a short, 140 characters or less.

I love sharing about myself and, in turn, getting to know others! Human connections are the most valuable thing in my opinion.

As a society, have we gone too far? Do we let the world know a little too much? I personally think that the more we share, the more we learn.... what do you think?