Facebook: Success or Trial?

Before the advent of social network services like facebook, MySpace, hi5, the world was really a very boring place especially for the youths. In American University of Nigeria, Yola, facebook has become the site for the latest gossip and happenings on campus. This would be cool for those that liked that sort of thing.



I remember over a year ago when everybody was on my case to join facebook. I wasn’t ready to hook up with old classmates, and the likes. Even those you wanted to give a wide berth would surely fish you out. It brings this stalker scenario to mind. I totally agree with Paul Saffo in The Economist where he said that social networks tend to lose value when they exceed the expected size. Facebook would be the perfect example.


A few days after joining Facebook, someone from my class in high school added me as his friend. I accepted!Well that was one mistake i vowed not to make again. While we were in school, we didn't communicate or move in the same circles. After adding him, he started hitting on me.I told him in no uncertain term that I was not interested. I guess he wasn't used to being refused. He went further by offering money as incentives for me to change my mind. My God!!Was I insulted? I was so angry that I deleted him instantly from my friends list. That taught me to be careful of creeps, even those under the disguise of social networks like Facebook.


After this incident, I have been very sceptical about adding even people I know to my friend list. I know social networking is important and I ask, am I wrong to be overly cautious?