<p>Oh, and I have had a Livejournal for years…a young man we had living with us for a couple of years created it for me. Now I find that most of the kids that used to post on there are on facebook instead…sort of sad, because that is more geared towards, well, “journaling”, and facebook is more of a communications system…</p>
<p>My mom has a Facebook account! She created it so she could see the pictures many of my friends took at the wedding. I happily friended her, but I don’t think my eighteen-year-old brother has. ;)</p>
<p>Yes, I have a facebook account. My older D, college grad, thinks it’s weird. My younger D, (college soph) thinks its OK. She even “friended” me, and I don’t abuse the privilege…would never post on her wall, and only check her profile once in a while. Probably a gray area of “helicopter parent” but oh well.</p>
<p>I’ve looked at Facebook and I don’t even understand it! 
(Neither of my kids use it.)</p>
<p>I want to get more involved with my local Sierra Club group, and they asked people to join Facebook, so with great glee, I joined. I had wanted to know more of what it was all about. Was a bit alarmed by how all my kids and a variety of email contacts popped up instantly. Then I felt I was stalking the kids, so haven’t returned. But after this thread, may go on there again, for my own purposes. </p>
<p>My kids used to use Livejournal, and I loved reading it, on any topic imaginable. Great place for checking out colleges, or any other interest.</p>
<p>I have facebook, but never told either one of my daughters, so they’ve never invited me to be their friend, and besides, that’s not why I created it. I don’t read (don’t even have access to read) theirs or any other of their friends sites. I created it to indulge a couple of adult friends who have them, but never really use it. I do have a xanga, but I go in spurts… posting a few times a month, to not posting for a few months. Right now I’m in the not posting for a few months. And even with xanga, any kids (that we know) that still use it have it set on private.</p>
<p>I do like livejournal, but never set it up.</p>
<p>Bay: I have a facebook account because my son tells me (and, recently I have read other articles etc along the same lines) that facebook IS the future for communicating on the net. We (boomers/parents) are just awakening to this - so I don’t do much YET with my account - but I believe that I will in the future. It has nothing to do with spying or intruding on the kids - it has to do with communicating with my peers. I’m waiting patiently.</p>
<p>I have a facebook account, my D bugged me to get one for months. I am friends with all my nieces and nephews and they friended me not the other way. They are also all friends with my aunt (age 70) who has a page.</p>
<p>I also work with many young adults and they are my friends too.</p>
<p>I have a Facebook, and a Livejournal – I got both before my daughter. I have many friends on Livejournal, and we all keep in touch through that. Now that my daughter is in college, Livejournal is one way I keep in touch with her. I don’t know as many people on Facebook, but have reconnected with some college friends there. </p>
<p>My daughter just friended me on Facebook; she was uncomfortable with us being friends there for a long time and I don’t know what changed her mind. I’m friends with her 3 closest HS friends there; their parents are on, too, and we’re all friends. I think for many kids now, they are beginning to accept that Facebook is no longer a kids-only domain. I have certainly noticed that more and more “older” people are on. </p>
<p>However, I haven’t friended any of the younger people I work with. Now that, I think, could be strange. They are friends with each other, but frankly, I’d rather keep my relationship with them professional and not be aware of their drinking or dating habits.</p>
<p>The wonderful thing about Facebook/Livejournal etc., is that groups can keep up with each other, share what’s going on in their lives etc.</p>
<p>Bay asked if anyone had a Facebook, as the fastest growing segment is the over-35 age group. And boy, did people get defensive right away!!! No-one is talking about prying into their kids’ lives, nor how special their relationships are with their kids. </p>
<p>I have a Facebook account, and the purpose of it is to keep up with my friends. We share pictures and information about our children, vacations, illness etc. We are so much more a part of each others’ lives which our busy schedules don’t permit us to do by way of phone or email.</p>
<p>Both my college kids have Facebook accounts. I have not friended them. Why would I? (I don’t join them when their friends are visiting us or sleeping over, do I?) They show me Facebook stuff whenever they are home, just for laughs. I don’t ask, don’t comment, and don’t go into the computer to try and see more.</p>
<p>I think that its an amazing social tool. Anyone can join. Its a great way to stay in touch with your own school friends, neighbors who moved away etc. I would never have known that a college friend had breast cancer, nor that a neighbor from another city had divorced her husband, nor that another distant friend was going to be visiting my city.</p>
<p>So, to answer your question, Bay, is it useful? Yes its great. Obviously you have to get your own social group to also sign up.</p>
<p>I’m behind the times and didn’t realize adults were using it for their own communications. I always thought of it as being for college kids though I had heard that anyone can now join. So, my mind was set that it was mostly a college kid thing and that if a parent joined, it would mostly involve reading/communicating with their college kid and his/her peers and not with their own friends. But perhaps it is becoming a networking friend site for adults. I hadn’t thought of it that way. I’m not on it. I’m not sure I could fit in another site after CC, LOL!</p>
<p>I am on Facebook too. My own friends, network different from S’s. S “friended” me eventually he wanted me to be able to see the pictures of him and his friends.</p>
<p>My daughter gave me her password and I creep around on her facebook all the time. I agree with soozievt that this is the kids’ social domain, however, my daughter has always included me in her socal life and FaceBook is just another aspect of that. I will say that most parents would probably be very disapproving and critical of much of what goes on in the fine educational institutions throughout this country. Many parents would FREAK at some of the pictures. Facebooking is the ultimate tool for distraction and procrastination. However, since I can remember how i was socializing and procrastinating in my early adulthood, i am grateful that our children are busy obsessively checking their walls. :)</p>
<p>I have two kids in college who because of distance I can only see on holidays. I ask them about it - note I actually ask them if it would be ok - and my S even offered to set it up. I especially enjoy seeing the photos they post - feels like I am just a little closer.</p>
<p>After reading this thread a while back, I asked my overseas kids to ‘friend’ me on Facebook. Access to their travel photos is quite precious, and far easier for them than separately emailing things to me. The college age one here has not, as yet. </p>
<p>Friends my age are starting to appear on facebook, though somehow it seems rather superficial communication. I prefer CC or direct email.</p>
<p>I am new to Facebook too. My DS had no problems with me looking at his page and tagging me as a friend. MY DD however allowed me to be a friend under the condition that I was NOT to ask any of her friends to be friends. I have been communicating with several friends my age. I can see this growing.</p>
<p>I have a Facebook, too…really set up for our business. One D friended me, the other didn’t. I’m having fun though with family and friends on it. It’s nice for communicating with people in other time zones and sharing news, pictures, etc.</p>