Why I Love Facebook

About a year and a half ago, Whitney from Mommies with Style encouraged me to join Facebook. "No way," I said. " The last thing I need is another place to check in every day... another spot to get lost for hours and resurface with absolutely nothing." Then, I joined a writing forum and they encouraged me to join Facebook, not for the hours I'd lose, but for the networking opportunities. And so, with hesitation, I joined.

It certainly surprised me how quickly I was connected with friends. Within a week I created a group page for my high school class, joined my sorority and college groups, and, of course, got hooked on those silly quizzes.

But after a while I learned the true benefits of Facebook. I've always been a friend of the moment. I was never good at keeping touch once the moment passed. So losing touch with camp friends, high school friends and college friends was pretty much my expectation. With Facebook, I found an opportunity to re-connect with so many friends from my previous lives. Not so much for the gossip (though, admittedly, I'm all for gossip), but for celebrating celebrations and offering support. Creating new connections and realizing things you have in common with friends you hardly new years ago. Facebook has offered this to me.

Each time I connect with a friend on Facebook, I search out our further connections. I can't get over the fact that Aaron from high school who now lives in CA knows Justine from college in Texas. How? They sat together at a mutual friends' wedding (and their sitting together led to a 4-month relationship.) Or Samantha, a preschool mom friend, is cousins with my younger sister's cheerleading co-captain, 4 states away. Facebook is making our world smaller. And I love that.

Sure, Facebook has its downfalls: obnoxious quizzes, office politics issues, rude status updates and the use of applications to share private information (see Settings>Privacy>Applications). I've heard, first hand, of people being fired from their jobs for the misuse of Facebook in the workplace.

To me, its a balance. Is it worth the annoying aspects to connect and reconnect with old friends and explore friendships for the future? You bet.

This is an original Philly Moms Blog Post. Julie Pron tries to limit her time on Facebook each day, but finds it annoyingly addictive despite her initial resistance.