Don’t become a hidden friend

Such is the cultural moment that it’s well neigh impossible to have a dinner table conversation that doesn’t veer onto the topic of Facebook, even in our (let’s generously call it) 35+ demo. And of late, that conversation is dominated by strong opinions about the recent “Twitter-ization” of the Facebook interface. While most of the voices we’ve heard are against the changes, we’re not here to dump on Facebook, but rather to offer a warning.

Anyone who’s checked their news feed lately has surely noticed that the handful of friends who are faithful and zesty Twitterers have totally taken over. Post after post. Obliterating all else. And what happens when you realize that some well intentioned friend has crossed the line into spam-hood and is probably not even conscious of doing so? You click that little link that says “Hide.” And poof, they’re gone. Not de-friended, but the effect is the same. Banished.

Some folks are catching on, like the lovely and sincere journalist who posted a plaintive “Twice now I’ve tried, and apparently failed, to de-link my Twitter account from my FB status updates. Can anyone tell me how to do this?!!!”

Yes, she was one of the first to go. It’s a tricky and moving line between not contributing enough and contributing too much. But missing the boat on this one will have you dropped out of the social conversation quicker than an AIG bonus earner. Don’t let it happen to you.