The Future of Facebook

I like Facebook. I really do. I can banter with good friends, keep in touch with relatives, and join groups or networks that I am interested in. Facebook is officially the only social networking site that I subscribe to anymore. Unlike Myspace, I currently know and am real friends with every single person on my friends list (if I rejected you as a friend, it's pretty self-explanatory). Where Myspace was a popularity contest plagued with networking goons, friend whores, and jailbait, Facebook has groups for the things that I like and issues that I am genuinely interested in.

I am bringing all of this up not to slurp Facebook, but instead to divulge into a VERY disturbing pattern I've seen on Facebook in the past few weeks. I am talking about, of course, the "25 Random Things About Me" lists. Ah yes, how innocent it seems. Just tag your friends and family in this list, and they can read 25 random, funny, sad, humiliating, or downright stupid things about you. It's a fun way to tell folks something about yourself, while creating social commentary amongst those involved. But it doesn't stop there. People are beginning to spend WAY too much time on Facebook, and are looking for any way they can to stay on the website, without it seeming like they're doing nothing. Thus, the lists. I wish I could say it was harmless, but unfortunately, it is far from it. You see, this is how it started on Myspace, too. It is a progressive virus, and here is how it goes:

Stage 1
"here are a few things about me, for all of you to enjoy! (big smiley face)"
Stage 2
"here are a few things about me, now write a few things about you, and don't forget to comment on these things about us! (smiley face)"
Stage 3
"here are a few things about me, since I've included you, you should include me in yours, and if you don't, then we are NOT cool anymore (serious face and smiley face)"
Stage 4
"here are a few things about me, I've only written this because I'm totally fucking bored, now send this along to 25 other people and your one true love will contact you at midnight tonight, but if you dont, no one will ever love you, ever (serious face)"
Stage 5
"here are a few things about me, if you read this and do not respond, i hate you. if you break this chain letter, you will lose both of your arms in a horrific carnival accident, and you will have terrible luck for the rest of your life, and i hate you (mean face)"

I am exagerrating? Maybe, but only a little. The point I'm trying to make is, keep it normal. If you wouldn't talk to a person face to face, then don't make them your friend on Facebook. If you weren't ever friends before, in real life, then what makes you think you'd be friends in the internet life. Just take it for what it's worth. Banter with good friends, keep in touch with relatives, participate in groups that you are genuinely interested in, and for the love of all that is holy, don't let those innocent "25 things about me lists" be the death of Facebook. I've seen this happen before on Myspace, don't think for a second that it can't happen again.