Facebook: for you, me and your MOM

When I graduated from high school I remember the moment when I received my college email account and was allowed to sign up for Facebook. Facebook was something new and exciting exclusively for the mature college scene. It had a special appeal unlike Myspace. I remember feeling so cool that I was now allowed and old enough to enter a whole new realm of social networking.

I also remember the unfortunate time when Facebook had decided to let high schoolers join in on the fun. I was not accepting of this change and the elite college atmosphere facebook once had, was taken away. Eventually I got used to it and in the end it was nice to be able to communicate with my friends who were still in high school.

Through out the years Facebook has had many changes; I would say some good and some bad. When the applications started coming, I thought to myself, Myspace here we come once again. The silly drinks and games were unnecessary and lame in my opinion; however, I am a fan of the bumper stickers. They are pretty funny at times.

Although my least favorite change to the Facebook network is the not so brilliant idea that Facebook should be open to anyone. When I say anyone, I mean my mom, my uncles, even my grandma if she so chooses to do so. Its ridiculous! If I wanted to talk to any of those people over the internet we could email or even instant message, but not through facebook. I don’t want my mom and dad posting on my wall! Facebook was once special for the college crew, and I but now that appeal is gone. It has turned into a social networking site for every one of all ages. Not only can you Facebook chat with your friends, but your Dad and younger siblings as well.

Apparently Zuckerberg and co-creater Hughes believed this new change would be a positive one, but I strongly disagree. I feel like I once felt safe on Facebook, but now any creepy old person can come and find you and friend request you!
I read a interesting article from 2006 posted on USA TODAY and here are some good excerpts:

When Facebook first launched two years ago, it was only open to people who had valid college e-mail addresses. Last September, the site opened up to high school students. And in May, it opened up to selected work networks. Now it will be open to virtually anyone.

And that could spell trouble for Facebook, says Danah Boyd, a social media researcher for Yahoo.
"Already, the high school students, college students and corporate accounts are having a hard time dealing with each other's presence," Boyd says. "I don't even want to think what will happen when Mom and Dad can join.”

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-09-11-facebook-everyone_x.htm