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I didn't read the article. I do have an honest question. This is probally not the time to take a half ass survey, but here goes: To Facebook members; what ex

I didn't read the article. I do have an honest question. This is probally not the time to take a half ass survey, but here goes: To Facebook members; what exactly have you gotten out of the site. This question is mainly geared towards Americans. I know in some countries FB is your only way to get onto any Internet--FB version of the Internet, but it's free--kind of--ads are not free. So these questions are really directed towards U.S. Citizens; did you make any physical friends by being on FB? Did you get any job offers? Did you get that invite to the party? And the most important question, did you meet that special someone you only would have meet through the social elite site of FB? I know a lot of you keep in touch with friends/family, and they have news feed, and that's a given, and wonderful--I guess? I'm asking these questions because I am really not in FB demographics, and really want to know. I know this will not be a balanced review of Facbook. I just didn't think FB would still be growing in America at this date. I actually shocked we are still talking about it. I know a handful of people who deactivated, but not the numbers I was expecting. (If offended, or feel this post is off topic-- I will remove it, and you have my apologies. And yes--I know they are buying up competition.)

Dlotan 10y ago
It helpes to stay in contact with not so close friends. For example people I met on a trip in canada. It makes me happy to see their vacation pictures which I wouldn't see usually because we are not that close.
egjerlow 10y ago
To answer one of your questions (not a U.S. citizen but I think the FB situation is pretty much the same in my country) - yes, I did get that invite to the party which I wouldn't have gotten without FB. It's also good for chatting and staying in touch in general, there is no other platform in my sphere that comes close in terms of number of my friends available.
andrewgretton 10y ago
How many friends, both close and casual, do you have? How many family members? For me, that number is around 150. Facebook enables me to ping them occasionally, or just passively stay in touch with their lives, where maintaining that many face to face friends is not practical.
CatsoCatsoCatso 10y ago
(Early 20s, UK Citizen & Resident) Yes, some physical friends have been met though FB but mostly it's been hugely instrumental in developing existing relationships (99% by messaging). No job offers but I have personally provided job opportunities through it. The last 5 social events I've been to (party, festivals) have been arranged through group messaging on FB's Messenger.
kayoone 10y ago
Facebook helps a lot to stay in touch with people you meet while travelling, ex-colleagues, or people you just occasionally meet in general and that you don't have the phone number of.
- hughperkins 10y ago
  It's not as good as Chinese wechat though, because it's really spammy: you click on like, everyone can see. On wechat you only see photos, likes, comments, from your direct friends. It is much more private. Once you've tried it, it's kind of hard to put up with the very public nature of Facebook, I find.
  - goldenkey 10y ago
    People use what they got. Most businesses accept American Express. So people carry it in their wallets. Network effect. Facebook is a good meeting point. Its hard to be pedantic on things that literally will kill minor relationships.
    - hughperkins 10y ago
      Well, there's an opportunity. Five years ago, everyone in China used to use qq, which is kind of like Chinese Facebook: everything public. Then wechat came out, and now I never use qq any more, I mean, noone does.
      - mingfli 10y ago
        Both qq and wechat are owned by tencent.
        hughperkins 10y ago
        They are. Not sure that changes my point much? The user database/registration are entirely separate. There is no lockin being circumvented by virtue of both being tencent.
nl 10y ago
Out of interest, what demographic are you? Unless you are under 13, it is difficult to imagine you aren't in a fairly active FB demographic. Also, what is "did you meet that special someone you only would have meet through the social elite site of FB" supposed to mean. I'm assuming the "meet someone special" means some kind of romantic relation, but what "social elite" is FB supposed to have? (To answer the questions, though: 1) Lots of things. It's the primary messaging platform that everyone is on, It's a good way to see photos of people I know, there are lots of very active and interesting technical FB groups I follow. > did you make any physical friends by being on FB? Yes, quite a number. > Did you get any job offers? Yes. Have had more via LinkedIn, but FB is more consulting-type work. > Did you get that invite to the party? Yes (not sure which one, but plenty of events I go to are organised on FB and I was invited via FB and wouldn't have if not for it) (Not in the US, but from a rich "western" country. Male, > 35 yo.) I just didn't think FB would still be growing in America at this date. I actually shocked we are still talking about it. I know a handful of people who deactivated, but not the numbers I was expecting. Why on earth not? Surely we are all past the idea that FB is a fashion thing? And due to the birth rate, plenty of new people will keep joining, and I doubt they are hit the demographic where they need to actively worry about the death rate in high numbers yet.

Dlotan 10y ago

It helpes to stay in contact with not so close friends. For example people I met on a trip in canada. It makes me happy to see their vacation pictures which I wouldn't see usually because we are not that close.

egjerlow 10y ago

To answer one of your questions (not a U.S. citizen but I think the FB situation is pretty much the same in my country) - yes, I did get that invite to the party which I wouldn't have gotten without FB. It's also good for chatting and staying in touch in general, there is no other platform in my sphere that comes close in terms of number of my friends available.

andrewgretton 10y ago

How many friends, both close and casual, do you have? How many family members? For me, that number is around 150. Facebook enables me to ping them occasionally, or just passively stay in touch with their lives, where maintaining that many face to face friends is not practical.

CatsoCatsoCatso 10y ago

(Early 20s, UK Citizen & Resident) Yes, some physical friends have been met though FB but mostly it's been hugely instrumental in developing existing relationships (99% by messaging). No job offers but I have personally provided job opportunities through it. The last 5 social events I've been to (party, festivals) have been arranged through group messaging on FB's Messenger.

kayoone 10y ago

Facebook helps a lot to stay in touch with people you meet while travelling, ex-colleagues, or people you just occasionally meet in general and that you don't have the phone number of.

hughperkins 10y ago
It's not as good as Chinese wechat though, because it's really spammy: you click on like, everyone can see. On wechat you only see photos, likes, comments, from your direct friends. It is much more private. Once you've tried it, it's kind of hard to put up with the very public nature of Facebook, I find.
- goldenkey 10y ago
  People use what they got. Most businesses accept American Express. So people carry it in their wallets. Network effect. Facebook is a good meeting point. Its hard to be pedantic on things that literally will kill minor relationships.
  - hughperkins 10y ago
    Well, there's an opportunity. Five years ago, everyone in China used to use qq, which is kind of like Chinese Facebook: everything public. Then wechat came out, and now I never use qq any more, I mean, noone does.
    - mingfli 10y ago
      Both qq and wechat are owned by tencent.
      - hughperkins 10y ago
        They are. Not sure that changes my point much? The user database/registration are entirely separate. There is no lockin being circumvented by virtue of both being tencent.

nl 10y ago

Out of interest, what demographic are you? Unless you are under 13, it is difficult to imagine you aren't in a fairly active FB demographic. Also, what is "did you meet that special someone you only would have meet through the social elite site of FB" supposed to mean. I'm assuming the "meet someone special" means some kind of romantic relation, but what "social elite" is FB supposed to have? (To answer the questions, though: 1) Lots of things. It's the primary messaging platform that everyone is on, It's a good way to see photos of people I know, there are lots of very active and interesting technical FB groups I follow. > did you make any physical friends by being on FB? Yes, quite a number. > Did you get any job offers? Yes. Have had more via LinkedIn, but FB is more consulting-type work. > Did you get that invite to the party? Yes (not sure which one, but plenty of events I go to are organised on FB and I was invited via FB and wouldn't have if not for it) (Not in the US, but from a rich "western" country. Male, > 35 yo.) I just didn't think FB would still be growing in America at this date. I actually shocked we are still talking about it. I know a handful of people who deactivated, but not the numbers I was expecting. Why on earth not? Surely we are all past the idea that FB is a fashion thing? And due to the birth rate, plenty of new people will keep joining, and I doubt they are hit the demographic where they need to actively worry about the death rate in high numbers yet.