Facebook a great way for all ages to reconnect

I have five friends, I think.

They would be Facebook friends, not the kind I had prior to last month.

That was when I read a technology column in which the author said, essentially, if you're not into social networking, you're nowhere. And he wasn't talking about high school or college kids.

I've said before that while I love technology, my keeping up with it could use some work. E-mails, digital photos ... it can be overwhelming. So why would I sign up for something that requires daily care?

After I read the column, I wondered if there were other uses for Facebook beyond knowing that so and so is bored. And were people past 40 really participating?

So I asked, discovering many people who have put their college graduation in their rear-view mirrors have Facebook pages. They use it for work, play and mostly to keep in touch.

Paula Krapf of Geneva is an "over 40" Facebook user. "There are a lot of us," she said. "It's actually attracting an older audience." Facebook helps her network for her job as a book publicist and "it's also a great place to catch up with college friends and enjoy the overall camaraderie."

Kathy Meier is 60, her brothers are in their 50s and her mom is 81; all have Facebook pages. This family formed a group site 13 years ago to keep everyone connected.

"Quite by accident we discovered Facebook," she said. Cousins joined first, then the rest of the family. And they're using Facebook more than their family group site.

"The kids who work for me (in their 20s) got me on it and it's great," said former St. Charles Mayor Sue Klinkhamer. At 55, she thought she'd be the oldest person using Facebook. She's not.

"I really enjoy it as a way of keeping in touch," she said. She also likes the various Facebook groups, including, "You know you're from St. Charles when ... "

Laura Donohoo is another "over 40" business and pleasure user. She teaches and operates a home-based business with a health and wellness firm. So she connects with friends but also with people interested in a healthier lifestyle.

Autumn Burns has reconnected with long-lost girlfriends from eighth and ninth grade, and is using the network to help organize a class reunion. Her Facebook use started when volunteering for a political campaign and turned "into something completely different for me. I've been excited to reconnect with so many people I've met at different stages in my life."

Kelly Cook got on board after seeing her teens and nieces and nephews communicate via Facebook. "I wanted to connect with them and also wound up reconnected to some old friends by surprise," she said.

Edith Goesle offered a practical reason for older people to join. "If you never hear from your 16-year-old granddaughter, just become her 'friend' on Facebook. She will write to you every day."

That brings up the question of parental access to children's pages. Betty Oetting's 14-year-old daughter has ignored Betty's "friend" request. Betty decided she's OK with that. "I really don't want to have teenagers as my 'friends' either, no matter how much I love them," she said. "I use it to keep in touch with my grown-up friends." She's at 70 friends and counting.

Oetting said she thinks kids will move on to something else soon "because of all the old folks joining the party. But they've introduced us to a great way to keep in touch."

With eight siblings, it's probably time for me to get with the program.