By Jill Primost
The amazing thing about writing a blog post on Facebook is that the chances are high that what you say about it one day could change if you wait, let’s say, two more weeks. The one constant but evolving discussion at the end of the day, however, is Facebook – personal or professional?
The college kid in me says “absolutely not” to professional. Think about the photo albums, the “activities,” and the groups that being in college breeds, and about whether or not these are things you would want anyone in your professional life to observe. If you went down the road of joining “Bong Rips Unite” - likely not.
The privacy controls solve a lot of those sticky issues since they allow the user to cut off access to certain items for certain people. While I admit this makes me more comfortable with the fact that the professional world can peek at my Facebook, it does still nag at me that I can’t keep what once was totally open, still open, without fear of any repercussion.
But what about the generation that is growing up on Facebook post-college?
This poses an interesting question to Facebook’s network, and given that this demographic exists, it now allows for what I would deem two different Facebook worlds. Both my parents’ generation and my college peers have limitless space to use Facebook for whatever purpose they choose.
For all of you recent college grads out there, like myself, who have companies or bosses that want to take advantage Facebook – to connect with clients, market their agency, or what have you – I’ll tell you that I now believe it’s possible to do so. There’s room for both generations. At this point in your career, you’ve likely outgrown the pictures of your friends passed out on fraternity steps, anyway.
Professional doesn’t mean “boring,” and it doesn’t mean anti-social. Use Facebook as a social network for your friends, and keep the content of your weekends to the few that you spend those days with anyway. As far as networking tools go, I still believe an option like LinkedIn is a much better professional and networking tool, and for my generation, it could very well be. But if Facebook works as a networking tool for the 40-plus crowd – then we surely shouldn’t stop them.
And let’s be honest, at 25 it’s probably time you revoke your membership in Bong Rips Unite, anyway.
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