Huffington Magazine Issue 17 | Page 28

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”?