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Like This? Some People Kept Apart on Facebook, Others Get an Easier Way to Say They Really Got Together
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Dang, social networking has sure changed how we relate to each other doesn't it? Facebook users, take note. In one state, there's a kind of friendship that is verboten, but parents-to-be all over the globe can tell their friends the big news in just one convenient click. In Missouri, a new law rules out students "friending" or following their teachers, and vice versa, on social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, that allow for private communication.
The law makes sense to many, who believe it will help keep the line between the two camps clear, but to some who cite the recent tornadoes in Joplin, for example, the sites can help open the lines of communication. Some of California's (nanny) state senators might wind up being inspired my Missouri to help us from ourselves online, too...you never know.
Speaking of communicating, if you use Facebook to share with friends, relatives, co-workers, and acquaintances details of your life like who your family members are, you can now use that same profile feature to tell everyone you know (on Facebook) that you are about to be a mom or a dad--and you can even plug in the baby-to-be's name. "The social networking site recently added 'Expected: Child' to its list of friends and family tags," explains the L.A. Times.
So is this tacky? It's certainly one way to get the news out, and if you use Facebook and are of a certain age and demographic, you might find more and more friends using the site to post "we're expecting!" statuses or updating their profile photo to that of an ultrasound.
The drawbacks to posting about a pregnancy are multifold, particularly for some women, who may suffer complications or miscarriage, and for friends who might be a little miffed you didn't pick up the phone or meet them for (decaf) coffee to share the news in a more intimate way. Having seen some friends go through the loss of a pregnancy, though, some may take comfort in having the built-in support network the site can provide.
The fact that you can use a tool built-in to the site to share the news of the impending pitter patter of little feet isn't such an offensive concept, but, as PC World points out, the grammar is:
Why the colon? The usage of a colon in that context usually means you get another blank spot to fill in more information, like "Expected: Hangover" or "Expected: Cat named Professor Wiggles."
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However, they add, this could be a catalyst for more progressive profile-ing ahead:
If Facebook goes full-throttle and allows users to customize their profiles in that fashion -- like they added civil unions and domestic partnerships to their relationship statuses -- maybe it will truly be a better place to meet friends and self-express.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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