Facebook® for Dummies®, 2nd Edition

Chapter 17. Ten Ways Facebook Uniquely Impacts Lives

In This Chapter

• Getting ready to go to school

• Meeting people in your new city

• Keeping up with the kids

Sometimes people are dismissive of Facebook, saying, "I keep up with my friends by calling them and visiting them. I don't need a Web site to do that for me." This is true. However, we try to make the point throughout this book that Facebook doesn't replace real friendships — it supplements them. You can still communicate and share information with your friends without Facebook; however, it's easier and faster to do with Facebook. Some things are always a part of life; Facebook just makes them better, faster, and stronger.

Keeping in Touch with Summer Friends

Carolyn once spent a summer leading a troupe of seventh graders into the wild. After two weeks of backpacking, kayaking, climbing, and bonding, the kids were given a big list of e-mail addresses and phone numbers, said their goodbyes, and were packed off to their respective homes. Carolyn (about to return to Facebook headquarters) lamented the fact that the kids were too young to be on Facebook because they almost assuredly would lose that sheet of paper. Carolyn quickly "friended" her co-counselors (who were all old enough to be on Facebook) and keeps up with them through photo albums, notes, and the occasional Poke war. As an added bonus, years later, when her co-counselor needed a reference, he knew exactly where to find her.

Not just for Carolyn, but for thousands of high school ...