Confessions of a LinkedIn Dropout

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In all, about 150 people attended the 2½-hour event. A venture capitalist friend was able to meet a number of below-the-radar startups. Other friends who are aspiring players in Israeli new media met each other for the first time and are now planning to collaborate on video efforts. On average, each guest made seven to eight new contacts, by my estimation. Based on the feedback I received, it was a successful experiment and something that I plan to do again. And it was only possible because of Facebook.

Like a Virtual Fraternity

The move to Facebook has upended my everyday life, too, both socially and professionally. I'm logged on for at least a couple hours a day, doing everything from updating my status (e.g., "Jeff is taking JetBlue flight 14 to JFK"), to catching up on groups I have joined, to checking and responding to Facebook messages. In fact, when I am on the road, friends find it easier to send me a message on Facebook than to my regular e-mail address. The same can be said for others I know.

Facebook has become something of a virtual fraternity, where I arrive home, walk into the living room, and check out what's going on. There are always people to catch up with and, since my friends are geographically distributed, there is usually someone online no matter where I am in the world, whatever time of day.

If you're new to the site, don't join every group. Don't add every application. Be selective. Look around. If your friends are not there yet, they will be. And don't be shy to invite them. Also, after you are on Facebook for a week, upload your contact list and check again. You may find that some of your friends have just arrived and you didn't even know.

And as we nonstudents arrive en masse, there will probably be some fallout and push-back from the core community of people who have been there from the start. How can it be that something that is cool for kids can also be cool for adults? But that's a small price to pay as Facebook transforms into a viral, vibrant home base for students and professionals alike, transcending demographics such as age and degree of coolness.

Pulver is a blogger, author, and entrepreneur in the communications and Internet industries. His blog can be found at http://pulverblog.pulver.com and his Facebook profile is here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=638880510&pwstdfy=833294312c026cb33cc4b58c5989b58b.