Facebook is a great tool for sharing news, whether it’s via sharing an article or posting a status update. In the past few days, however, I’ve seen instances where the status updates ARE the news.
In today’s Pasadena Star News, Frank Girardot shares recent status updates from area politicians. These include:
- “At Gov’s budget briefing. Convinced ‘pay go’ budget is the way to go.” (State Assemblyman Anthony Portantino)
- “It’s time to end part of our immigration nightmare by passing the DREAM Act!” (Rep. Judy Chu)
These carefully crafted updates aren’t as personal as many that we see rushing through our news feeds, but they’re a great way for politicians to succinctly communicate a position or to rally supporters. Celebrities are also using Facebook to craft a specific public image.
A series of Facebook statuses can tell a compelling story. The honest, unscripted postings of one family are the subject of “A Facebook story: A mother’s joy and a family’s sorrow” in Thursday’s Washington Post. By selecting which updates and comments of a woman’s wall to include, and adding editorial comments that provide background information about certain people and circumstances, the Post tells such a moving story that I was moved to tears by the end. Here’s a screenshot of part of the story:
My Facebook wall doesn’t tell my whole story. I’m careful that what I post doesn’t violate the privacy of close family and friends, and I am careful not to let momentary frustrations become part of the permanent record. Even so, my Facebook wall (and this blog) are as close to an autobiography as I’ll ever have. Maybe some day my grandchildren will care to read it.
Links:
- Download your Facebook wall and messages to an HTML file by going to Account > Account Settings > Download Your Information.
- Let your 2010 Facebook statuses tell a story via the My Year in Status 2010 application.
- Here’s a parody of what Jesus Christ’s Facebook profile might look like. It won’t be long before someone re-writes the Bible in Facebook format.
- If I were a teacher, I’d have the students create Facebook profiles for historical figures, a là Archeologists Dig Up Ancient Facebook.
Ah Kathy so true. And you do a good job of keeping things up to date. Honestly, how do you find the time? Love the idea of blog and FB as autobiography…thanks for the bit of inspiration.
Thanks for this info. KCher, u still using Fbk? I hope it goes the way of friendster & my space so something better, more user friendly, and modern replaces.
But of course I’m still on Facebook! Miss you there!! I like how Facebook keeps me in touch with people I know, and have found that there’s more discussion of blog posts and articles there than on my blog or on Twitter.
Here’s another example of Facebook statuses becoming the news:
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/features/view/feature/ABC-News-Anchor-Breaks-Down-on-Twitter-Over-Train-Delay-2783