Hi Jesse, it's interesting to stumble upon this blog post because I, too, just recently deleted almost all of my Facebook friends. This whole social networking thing is beginning to swallow my humanity. Being friends with hundreds of people I don't even talk to is too impersonal for me. The lack of a human connection feels empty and sterile. Furthermore, to be bombarded with pictures and comments on my wall of acquaintances and their friends' activities feels like I'm intruding on their privacy. So I applaud your decision and anyone else who chooses to limit their Facebook friends to people they know or speak with regularly.

I understand that many people feel Facebook is more personal than other sites, but what I don't understand is why - and more importantly, why people give Facebook the trust required in providing a real name. This has opened the door to government and business pursuing individuals (for legal reasons) on Facebook, because of the legitimacy it has gained by people giving this website trust. Not long ago it was revealed that Facebook wanted to keep a user's information even after the user deleted their account. These things make me uneasy.

It's fun to socialize with friends and family on Facebook. If someone is just now going to get an account there, it is possible to get it under a nome de plume, and then reveal one's identity to friends and family on the site. I think if the profile/sign-up name is not the user's real name, it is a great privacy enhancement. The "red flag" is the sign-up/profile name, not the interactions with people you trust on the site.

Setting up a false or secondary account on Facebook goes against their terms of service.

I think it is kind of interesting how Twitter has evolved to be more of what the the users want it to be - networking. According to Twitter, it is (or was) "a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"

Good post, I agree.

I have yet to plunge into Facebook (I'm getting used to one aspect of Social Media at a time), but I agree wholeheartedly about your decision to delete, especially if these individuals are not adding value to either your business network by sending people/traffic/business your way or adding value to your personal network by enriching your life in some manner.

Your family comes first, and quite frankly, if someone cannot take the time to get to know you and build that relationship, tough cookies!

BTW: Congrats on that new baby!!! Hope mommy and baby are well.

I agree with you. I have always been selective with who I have as friends on Facebook. I recently started a new page for my realty company where I can post new listings, open houses and media news.

Jesse-i think you make a good point and I've thought of employing your practice myself. On the other hand, I have reached out to some folks i've become aware of on twitter or from other sources to potentially build a relationship for future benefit and industry knowledge.

What I find odd is people treating facebook and sending me inviations to be "friends" without any kind of personal message attached to it that say" hi, i'm interested in "friending" you because I too, have an interest in x,y,z and feel you'd be a good connection.In some cases, I've accept, reached out to them to see if there's a reason to communicate and gotten nothhing in return. Delete.

I kind of treat Plaxo like the myspace of networking. I don't care if a monkey asks me to be a friend on that service, i just say yes. On facebook, I'm more selective but I could be even more.

I definitely understand your position, and I think that you nailed the Facebook idea.

To the same degree though, I have a personal Twitter account, and I'm fearful of adding the whole mass social media connections to it. What are your thoughts on having two Twitter accounts, one personal and one business?

It's ok to have multiple Twitter accounts, so you can have one for family and one for networking. If you have more than one account on Facebook you are violating their terms of service

Right on! You've articulated my feelings on the matter exactly. Perhaps I'll just blog about that. :) m