MySpace and Facebook

I feel there is an amount of caution for my generation regarding Facebook. We are not used to 'exposing' ourselves in public so much. I feel ambivalent about using it. Part of me is a bit nervous about 'being out there' on the web, but the other part is curious. I have already enjoyed the benefit of social networking systems like Facebook far sooner than I expected.
Personal
Wondering how on earth I was going to find someone I knew on Facebook, I thought of my son and quite rightly surmised that he would definitely be on Facebook being a gregarious show off from way back. Sure enough I found him and added myself to his entry, I was suprised that he accepted me- his old mum amongst his 'net friends'. (Although, I was careful not to reveal that I was his mum!) It was very interesting because he had just arrived back from a trip to Vietnam the night before and had uploaded his photographs already, so I was able to fully appreciate the benefit of Facebook by it allowing him to share his photos. Normally, it would have been weeks before I met with him in person and therefore able to see his pics.

Professional
I read through some of the articles provided and suddenly could see how useful it would be, for instance to get instant feedback from students on the specifics for the Insync survey. When they say we have no books what exactly do they mean. Do they mean we do not have enough copies, or do not have the correct items? Do they know that we have a lot in electronic format etc.

I now realise how important these communication tools are.
I can ring several times to my son or daughter and they may or may not ring me back but if I sms them or, now, post on their Facebook - I get a fast response. These are the tools they use, not the telephone or email anymore.