Do not like Facebook...

[dee_burris]

I used to be on Facebook. One of my sisters ragged me about it for so long, I caved.

I almost instantly regretted it.

I am a writer. I do not write in sound bites that fit on the wall.

So I always ran out of characters before I ran out of something to say.

Then, the little wet-behind-the-ears Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, declared that privacy was no longer a "social norm," and that was all I needed to deep-six Facebook.

And yet, many of the bloggers I follow are on Facebook. Even when they post that they don't really like it.

So I want to know...is there an advantage from a genealogical perspective to being on Facebook?

I frankly do not have any desire to re-connect with people with whom I attended grade school. I don't play games, or send cyber-gifts to people.

But, for those who have done it, is there a benefit to creating a surname or family page on Facebook? Have you made connections that helped with your research?

Comments

Facebook for Genealogists

[(Anonymous)]

I guess I am biased to using Facebook since I've developed a class called Facebook for Genealogists. I focus mainly on privacy and let attendees know that it isn't just Facebook - as a user, when you provide info, you have a responsibility to read the Terms of Services of that site and understand what they are doing with that data. I do agree that Facebook's approach has not always been to be upfront with its users.

However, I've seen many genealogists and family historians use Facebook in a very focused manner: queries, lookups, recommendations on sources and software, surname searches, etc. This is what I tell folks - forget the games, the apps, the pokes. Stay focused and Facebook can help you with your genealogy.

Thomas MacEntee

[(Anonymous)]

I have used Facebook as a directory of sorts. I found a distant cousin in Belgium via Facebook.

I also use it to connect with other genealogists. Many of my real-life friends I originally met through Facebook.

The privacy thing bugs me, too. I don't share much. I also don't play games and all the other time wasters there. I've learned to block a lot / hide a lot and make Facebook work for me.

On that note, contact me some time about our Pope County connections through the Bowdens and Williamsons.

Best,

Amy
We Tree Genealogy blog

[pattyloof.livejournal.com]

I've reconnected with relatives on Facebook, and we're organizing a reunion through there. But it can be a real time-waster if you're not careful.

[lostancestors.livejournal.com]

I have created a facebook group (one for each side of my family) where we can post photos and everyone helps identify who is in them, or we just laugh at everyone's hair, or whatever. We can trade family recipes, etc. And it's private, so nothing posted in the group is seen by the public and if you want in, you have to be invited. I have connected with several cousins I have never met, which is really fun!

I also enjoy keeping up with folks from high school (we are planning our 25th reunion).

Jenny Lanctot
www.aremyrootsshowing.blogspot.com