The fuss about Facebook

Jade Barringer is a journalism student at Bournemouth University and loves to party until the sun comes up!

Jade explains why social networking makes face-to-face communication better, not worse.

Britain's Facebook-crazed generation is confident online but awkward and socially inept when it comes to job interviews, according to a report by graduate training firm Evolutions. Apparently, graduates are unprepared for interviews because they can't cope with face to face communication.

Let's look at the background to this argument. I can remember a time, not so long ago, when it was text talk that was supposedly assaulting our social skills. But despite the fact I was (and still am) an avid textaholic, I'm clearly capable of articulating full sentences when I have to. To me, the fuss about Facebook is just another chance to have a dig at us twentysomethings. We go out, we binge drink and our biggest fault, we instant message. There's no way we could ever manage a respectable job, could we?

Yet the fact I use Facebook doesn't seem to have stop me being able to form relationships with real people. In fact, I believe social networking has enhanced my communication skills, while on a professional level, I've found it's a great way to keep in touch with useful contacts.

"We go out, we binge drink and our biggest fault, we instant message"

For example, I recently had an interview at a newspaper company, so I facebooked a fellow student who had also been there for work experience. She shared with me a wealth of knowledge, from the type of tasks I would be asked to do to the clothes I should wear, and even the train route I should take to work. As I result, I walked in on Monday morning feeling confident. Meanwhile, you'll be surprised how many 'lazy' students are using Facebook to arrange study groups and share work placement experiences and interview techniques.

Yet it seems anyone over the age of 30 thinks social networking is a waste of time. Only a couple of months ago I attended my annual student union meeting, where banning Facebook in the library was suggested. I thought university was about finding your feet, being independent and being treated like a young adult. But instead, they think our degrees are going to suffer just because we social network.

OK, perhaps I might have got a first this year if I hadn't been tagging photos and poking my housemates, but in my experience Facebook is a precious tool of communication. And, surely, good communication skills are some of the finest attributes you can bring to any company?

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