I recently went out for bon-voyage dinner with a few friends – all about 40 years plus, except for the 13 year old daughter of one of the ladies there. Murray and Steve were off to the US – lucky them!

As we were sharing our meal, the subject of Facebook, or ‘Crackbook’ as my friend Serena calls it, came up in conversation. It became pretty lively, as there was some vehement opposition to it. “Kids need to go out and make some real friends, the old fashioned way, the way we used to do it. Who needs acquaintances?”

I thought the lady making that comment had tried it and didn’t like it. Fair enough, horses for courses…

The 13 year old piped up “You don’t understand what it is because you’ve never used it.” And she’s right. How can you possibly comprehend something of the magnitude of Facebook if you haven’t even given it a go? It’s kind of like a kid saying they hate avocado, but they’ve never even tasted it, except sillier, because you’re an adult or you look like one, at least…

As a parent of a young girl, I want to be in the loop with all this new technology, so I can manage it effectively for myself and for her. Dismissing it will not do any parents, any favours, long term.

There are many negatives associated with social media but there are also many positives. Keeping in touch with friends who live overseas or in remote areas is so much easier. These relationships may have withered away in other times but constant contact, through Facebook, helps keep them alive and connected in a much more inclusive way than writing a letter or a faceless phone call ever could.

Mothers, who can so often feel isolated in their lives have a way to connect for an hour while their baby finally takes that afternoon nap, people with disabilities who cannot get around easily, can stay in touch with others. The list goes on…

Facebook encourages people to share their lives, the ups and the downs. This results in positivity for the most part, with most of us usually receiving praise and admiration for our successes and acknowledgement and support to help us through the tough times. A private message is another option if you are reluctant to share in an open forum.

Sure, there are many sharing the inanities of their lives but, you know, you friended them! And if you don’t want to know what they are up to, you can hide their posts without them even knowing. You can also stop individuals from commenting on your posts or sharing on your wall, or even seeing anything you post…but then, what’s the point?

Facebook, along with Skype, My Space and plethora of other social media outlets, keeps us all well connected. It’s okay not to like it but claims that it reduces the quality of friendships is rubbish. I have a handful of people I consider close friends and see them when I can, but I cannot see all the people I want to, all the time. Life gets busy.

Facebook is great for the little bits of time in between our busy lives. It enhances friendships that otherwise would not develop; I don’t believe it diminishes them. Nor should Facebook replace a good catch-up when you can do it. Most people want to see their friends in person and if you don’t want to see someone, you won’t, regardless of whether they are a ‘Facebook friend’ or not.

And as for that recent statistic in the paper, shared through Facebook, about Facebook “80% of marriages breakdown because of new found relationships with old friends and lovers on Facebook, ” My answer to that is, if that’s the truth, then it would have happened anyway, regardless of whether Facebook or ‘F***book’ was around.

If you’ve had enough log out, that’s all there is to it. You can always come back when you are in the mood, as everyone will, for the most part, still be there.

See you next month, Cath