Facebook is REALLY for Older People
March 8, 2009Back in the day, when Myspace was cool I had my online profile. After too many issues with people being jealous, angry or hurt because they were not in my top 8 friends – I shut it down! Vowing never to resurrect that virtual world.
I must admit that I recently ate my words and glad to be back in the game. At the end of last year, I created a Facebook profile. In my defense, I only did so in order to manage our company’s Facebook group. I started getting invites from my family members, my friends and people from college, from Highschool and others whom I had lost touch with over the years. It was exciting and enjoyable to catch up and I truly feel blessed to have many of these people back in my life.
Facebook bar none is one of the most powerful re-connection tools that exists. The older you are, the more compelling the value of Facebook. The older you are the more people you have lost touch with as opposed to kids who aren’t even old enough to forget someone’s name.  (Caveat: My grandfather who is 96 and outlived most of all his contemporaries, likely would not have a large pool of re-connections) If you are 96 and on Facebook, hats off… you are a superstar in my eyes.
Your friends from school, from your hometown, former colleagues, relatives you don’t see/hear from much. Imagine the possibilities of being able to re-kindle old relationships and catch up on people’s lives simply by logging in. Facebook will even suggest people you may know, based on those you already do. Others will find you. No “Its too much work” excuses are allowed.
Many of you are saying “Great I’ve re-connected, so what?” Here the opportunity: All these people that you now are re-connected with can possibly help you. I presume some of them even like you. Looking for a job? Trying to make new business contacts? Need to get acclimated in a new city? There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Telling people where you are in your life and asking for help is part of being human. Most people truly treasure helping others because of the way helping makes them feel and many others believe in the karma that help will come back around. Lest we not forget that all of us should Pay it Forward.
I get excited at the thought of all the people my dad has lost touch with in his life and where some of them might be now and what they are doing. I am going to make my dad one of the most re-connected people on Facebook… he just doesn’t know it yet. SHHHH
Read this article in the Time Magazine: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1879169,00.html
For additional resources visit: www.strategicbusinessnetwork.com
