Government Affairs Blog

My life on Facebook

Last month I created a profile on Facebook.  For those of you who don’t know what it is, it is part MySpace, part Friends Reunited, part social networking. 

I joined because I was asked if I had a profile by a couple of people and then I read that it is being used by journalists, MPs and PR professionals. 

Perhaps this is a sad reflection of my herd instincts and inability to do something original.  My justification is that I was curious and felt that as someone in the communications profession I should understand how these things work.

Facebook began in the USA.  It was designed for American students.  Only recently has it been opened up to the likes of you and me. 

There are journalists on Facebook as well politicians and many public relations and public affairs people.  You can do many things with Facebook: set up virtual networks; request to be friends with people you don’t know; or simply keep up with your friends.

The former and the latter seem to me the most practical.  I have signed up to a PR group and, work allowing, intend to go to a real networking event that they are organising.  Facebook has also allowed me to manage my friendships online.  Without it, I would be neglecting some people because I had got out of the habit of contacting them.

Facebook could well be a fad.  More likely it will evolve into something else as it mirrors the development of the web and the software available at the time.

Simon Goldie is Head of Communication at The Chartered Institute of Taxation – www.tax.org.uk - and a member of the CIPR GAG committee