on becoming a Facebooker

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Some time ago, shortly before Stealing Nasreen was due to be released, a friend suggested I get on Facebook so that I could better promote the novel. She’s younger and hipper than I, so I took her advice. Still, I was skeptical, and resolved to use the social networking tool only for bookish stuff. I wasn’t going to become addicted, or post inane ‘status updates’ about what I had for breakfast.

I slowly grew my friends list, created a Stealing Nasreen group page, and began to post event pages for the various readings I was doing. Sometimes people I didn’t know would friend me, and in fit of virtual social butterfly-ness, I accepted them. I figured I could maybe interest them in my book, anyhow. Other times, people I didn’t know would contact me for media interviews, to share fannish feedback or invite me to read at events. I began to feel closer to people I liked but didn’t get to see very often. It was all going pretty well. I was giddy about Facebook then, and tried to recruit everyone to join: “You hear about events your won’t hear about on e-mail. You’ll sign petitions, quickly mobilize protests, connect with your cousins!!”

But then I noticed that something else began to happen on Facebook when I passed the 300 friends mark. I think that’s when it happened. You maybe know what I mean. Suddenly, the news feeds got clogged with notices from people I’d  never met or barely could remember from grade 2. I started to RSVP “maybe” to everything I got invited to (which in Facebook-land, means “um, no”). On my birthday, I received lavish salutations from strangers. Everyone and their sister (who I’d also friended) shared their “25 things” with me.

Today, I have 687 friends. I still use Facebook to promote my book and other people’s books and events. I’m still connecting to friends, family, and fans and hearing about stuff I wouldn’t have over e-mail. But I feel more jaded now when people friend me. I hope they won’t post too much. I pray they won’t complete every quiz about what kind of superhero, philosopher or sea animal they are. I wonder how to cull the list.

Is this just the evolution of Facebook membership? That it all gets a little less interesting and perhaps too crowded over time? Does everyone develop Facebook fatigue? Maybe I should just take a little break from it for awhile.

If I do, I’ll make sure to put that in my status update.

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