Like so many, am spending too much time on Facebook, without knowing why...
So I decided to work out the point of Facebook.
1 Clearly, it is an unofficial dating agency, as so many people tend to be selective of their picture...well who would put up a bad picture of themselves. Those trying to be post-modern/ironic/pretending not to care (errr like me) put up pictures not of themselves, but of drawings, feet and balloons (John Grant, me, Russell Davies).
2 It is a social gathering for work colleagues.
3 It is a place for friends to gather and sort out their calendars and also just say hi.
4 It is a comfort blanket
5 It is a chance to show how popular you are...a bit like handing out sweets in the playground really...
But is is a business tool?
I am signed up to a bunch of things, including the business social network LinkedIn. This one is supposed to be the one to build your work contacts (seven degrees of seperation and all that). It looks formal, is formal (asking to be introduced through a third party) and is dull as anything. However, I have found a few people through it and has had some benefits.
However, Facebook has been a breath of fresh air for business. Re-invigorating the connection with a lost contact through Facebook feels more spontaneous and more accessible than LinkedIn, whilst keeping momentum going with new contacts works well too. So for me Facebook wins hands down as a business tool, by not trying to be a business tool. Maybe Linkedin should introduce a dating section to liven things up...
