Voices
For example, you’re in the job
market and looking at accounting
firms. You go to your list of Facebook friends, use the “search by
workplace” option and find that
Lauren, your old pal from 7th grade
Social Studies, works at the company you had your eye on.
So, naturally, you send your
long-lost friend a Facebook message, reconnect and hope she can
put in a good word.
But what if you unfriended Lauren months ago during an impassioned “Facebook cleanse”?
With Lauren gone from your
list, there is almost no way you
would know she works at the
accounting firm.
That’s the power of social networks; they allow everyone to remain loosely connected without
having to interact on a regular basis. Just being friends on Facebook
keeps us tied together.
Of course, there are plenty of
studies that say maintaining a
huge list of people on Facebook is
bad for us.
Like this one from Men’s Health:
Researchers asked a sample
group of Facebook users between
the ages of 18 and 65 to read some
of their friends’ status updates.
Afterward, those Facebook users
DANNY
RUBIN
HUFFINGTON
10.07.12
rated their lives as much less satisfying than people who didn’t check
their news feed first.
Sure. We probably don’t need to
read everything about everyone all
the time. But there’s no way to predict which Facebook friend could be
the one to help you l and a new job
or even recommend a solid babysitter, plumber or painter.
Let’s say a buddy from
high school—who lives
Every
across town but you
person you
haven’t seen in years—
delete on
just bought a new house.
Facebook
You know that because
is one less
he posted photos of
networking
the home on Facebook.
You’re also in the maropportunity
ket for a new house so
down the
you shoot him a message
road.”
about mortgage rates and
real estate agents.
Without being “friends” on
Facebook, the conversation simply
wouldn’t have happened.
We spend our entire lives amassing a network of people. Why cut
them loose because they aren’t front
and center in our world?
Just think: a person from way
back in the day could hold the keys
to your future dream job.
Aren’t you glad you
didn’t hit “delete”?