Social networking sites have become all the rage over the course of this decade. For many, it gives us the opportunity to keep in touch with old friends and long-estranged family members in ways never previously available. For some, it gives a unique capability to stalk and creep on every girl you've ever wanted to get with, for example.
One of the more popular social networking sites is Facebook. Started in 2004 by then-Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg, it has developed into the widely-used and super successful corporation that it is today.
Facebook has underwent several facelifts over the course of the past five years. What started out as a simplistic, collegiate and less-creepy alternative to MySpace is starting to look like it's trying to emulate its rival. This brings up a new theme in my blog to join the ranks of HR people and less-than-honest prospective employers who hide information about door-to-door Willy Loman-style sales, called 'Complaints and Grievances'--inspired by the late comedic legend George Carlin's 2001 HBO stand-up special of the same name ("And I'm gettin' really sick of guys named Todd. It's just a goofy fuckin' name.") I digress.
Facebook used to offer users only the most basic information (birthday, hometown, major, interests, photos, etc.) However, as a result of its massive expansion, many changes ensued. Changes including extending the membership to high school kids, middle school kids, and to round that out, middle-aged people and ANYBODY with an e-mail address. The advent of the "News Feed" occurred a few years ago. This convenient tool allowed others to peer in on your the daily occurrences in your life based on the changes that you make to your profile.
It just underwent another change in it's layout which pretty much exclusively focuses on the news feed updates. Great, updates that combine your friends, family, and people that you can barely even remember. Like I give a damn if Johnny Varsity that I haven't seen since high school is currently taking a shit at the moment. Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter are all moving in the direction of being carbon copies of each other.
The level of creepiness and stalking that is a by-product of this new level of MyTwitSpacebook's info accessibility is reaching new high levels. How far is too far? And where is Chris Hanson when you need him? ("Nice to see ya, have a seat.")
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