Only Facebookers need apply
October 31, 2007 //
I once wrote to all my LinkedIn connections informing them of my decision to no longer update my profile, whilst asking them to connect with me on Facebook if they genuinely wanted to connect.
So, here I am again with another social network to avoid. I’m no longer accepting invitation requests to connect on Plaxo, or any other social network for that matter. I simply don’t have the time to update profiles or maintain communications on each one. I only use Plaxo for backing up my contacts anyway, full stop.
As I’ve previously explained, Facebook is my shop window into which you can see who I am, who I know and what I stand for. You can also see what I look like dressed as a Chicken running down Oxford Circus at 12am. That is of course, assuming I’ve enabled you to see those comprimising pictures using the extremely granular privacy settings.
Until now, I’ve accepted connection requests only from people known to me or known to people I trust. However, in order to make BIMA, Segala and me more accessible, I’m now opening up my network to anyone who wishes to connect with me.
Why anyone? Well, because if I’m not connected to an individual or company, it’s very likely I should be if they’ve come across me via a blog, twitter, event etc. Should some nut case end up in the circle of trust I’ll simply remove them. On Twitter I voiced my intention to which Paul Jacobson replied
@PaulWalsh If you open up to everyone then that means the rest of us aren’t special anymore … 05:37 PM September 18, 2007 from im in reply to PaulWalsh
I hope Paul doesn’t think this now that I’m opening up the small gates which hold back only a few unsuspecting Facebookers. The truth is, I’m connected to 469 people on Facebook. That doesn’t even come close to the number of people I know. I’m sure there must be a few people who know me but who are (until now I hope) unknown to me. The same applies to everyone, you can’t know everyone who knows you. So, maintaining my network is quite easy for me.
I’m pretty confident that either Facebook or a third party developer will enable us to build communities out of our network. For example, I’d like separate communities for BIMA, Segala, Jaipur, Digital, Events, Programmes I advise on, etc. There’s likely to be an overlap which is fine, but at least I’d have the ability to communicate with them separately.
I don’t think I’d create communities for business and personal because then you’re forcing yourself to say who’s a friend and who isn’t, which in my opinion, goes against the grain of the social graph.
It’s much easier to open up your network after studying it whilst closed, than it is to close it and end up kicking people out.
Read in-depth article about how I perceive and use Facebook.
So, if you wish to connect on Facebook, then feel free to to do so now.
Gerald Wiggins says 
marco goldschmied says 
Sharon Crossley says 
Hi Paul
I think having a few hundred friends on social networks is pretty much par for the course given the sheer numbers of people using them. Nice thing about social networks is that you can direct your attention at individuals as well as to groups so I still feel special being one of 469 friends you have on Facebook.
November 1st, 2007
Good to hear it Paul - what’s important is the frequency with which we use Facebook to communicate.
Facebook = Technology (not social network)
People I know = my social network
I use the technology to build and communicate with my network. Too many people (not you) focus on Web sites as a social network, it’s not, it’s the people. Technology just makes it easier and more compelling to communicate which helps to build and maintain relationships.
November 1st, 2007