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What Is the Facebook Generation?

Malcolm Tatum
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Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 43,268
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Sometimes identified as Generation F, the Facebook generation is a title used to identify those who are growing up in a world where the use of online social networking is common. The use of online networking sites such as Facebook are seen as forces that will significantly alter the way people develop personal and work related networks. As a result, the basic philosophy for communicating with others will be very different from the way that baby boomers or children of the Generation X or Generation Y era connect with other people.

In terms of creating a social network, the Facebook generation is likely to see the melding of online friends with friends in the local area as a natural part of developing a well-rounded circle of acquaintances. The online social network may or may not overlap with the local group of friends, but it will be considered just as important in terms of encouragement, support, and the exchange of knowledge. Tools built into sites such as Facebook allow users to convey emotions, share data, and interact in ways that are much more efficient than earlier online efforts. With visual, verbal, and oral capabilities now common on these sites, the interaction is very similar to a face-to-face conversation.

facebook generation

Over time, the impact of the Facebook generation is anticipated to change the way that corporations think in terms of productivity and efficiency. For example, online networking allows ideas to be considered among peers with greater speed, making the merits or drawbacks of a given approach readily recognizable. This is in contrast to traditional methods that may require more time to fully evaluate an idea through field testing, opinion polls, and other commonly employed tools.

The Facebook generation is also more at home with working independently. This may mean that the trend of people telecommuting for work rather than assembling at a single physical location may become the norm rather than the exception. At the same time, the networking capability may also change the way people approach the workday. Rather than devoting a solid block of eight hours to work efforts, short periods devoted to work tasks may take place over much of the day and into the evening, based on the tasks that must be completed on any given day.

facebook generation

As the Facebook generation comes of age, employers may find the need to adjust their procedures in order to accommodate the different mindset of Generation F in order to remain competitive in their markets. Even educational institutions may find that traditional methods are no longer effective and rely on newer approaches to the instruction process that incorporate the elements inherent in today’s online social networking. It is important to note, however, that along with the development of new methods, there will also be the need to create new ways to monitor activity, evaluate efficiency, and measure accountability in the online work environment.

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Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including PublicPeople, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
Discussion Comments
By anon995211 — On Apr 12, 2016

1977-1985 : AOL Generation

1986-1992 : MySpace Generation

1993-1999 : Facebook Generation

2000- ???? : Instagram Generation

By anon924787 — On Jan 07, 2014

I have no issue with young, single people using Facebook as they are using Facebook as a social networking tool to meet others and form relationships. However, when married people who have jobs, homes to maintain and children to raise, start spending inordinate amounts of time socializing online and looking for affirmation from others that their photos are amazing, that they are amazing, etc., it's concerning. Spend your time with your real-life family and friends. They need and deserve your attention and time.

By anon321400 — On Feb 22, 2013

As a baby boomer, I see the comments posted by Millennials, Xer's, Echo-boomers etc. clearly indicate my thought process is quite different. I must accept the fact these people were raised under a different set of circumstances and conditions.

As an example, from my vantage point, I can't understand why another person would think it important to post a message on my Facebook page informing me they saw a picture show at the theater last evening. Should I really care? I don't place a lot of importance in supposedly having huge numbers of "friends".

The commonly held belief among many Matures and Boomers of, "you can count the number of true friends on one hand" clearly indicates a different mindset. This opinion by the way, continues to be accepted by a large number of those over the age of sixty.

Maybe it's just a boomer mentality, but for people of my generation, being a free thinker and independent, is/was more important than soliciting yourself to be accepted as "one of the pack". I was taught by my parents at an early age, "be a leader, not a follower". My generation put a man on the moon, and perfected the science of transplanting the heart of one human being into another and invented the computer. We also glorified/promoted the use of narcotics, glamorized promiscuous sexual behavior and created/raised what became known as a generation of "latch key" children.

It is my hope that, as time marches on, the Xer's, Millennials and the F Generation utilize their collective intellectual abilities to create something worthwhile in addition to FaceBook and Twitter. Go make something happen.

By anon317545 — On Feb 02, 2013

" ... allows ideas to be considered among peers with greater speed, making the merits or drawbacks of a given approach readily recognizable..."

Here is the problem with this statement. It assumes some merit or virtues. Allowing idiots to gang up on someone is analogous to Natzis to use propaganda to eliminate competition.

By anon271281 — On May 25, 2012

The Facebook generation does not know how to interact socially and this will hurt them in the future -- if this country even has one.

By malik23 — On Nov 23, 2011

my posts were to everyone who posted something on this article.

By malik23 — On Nov 23, 2011

I am uncertain, but I think I am part of Generation F. I feel that being able to work at home and being able to use social networks is one of the best ideas ever. I feel like friends can work in the same areas as each other from their computers. Doing so will eliminate being lonely, and promote closer, possibly even more loyal ties amongst friends, and could give rise to a new way of looking at a friendship and socializing.

If you are a person who does not live within the same neighborhood as a friend, you could easily schedule dates with your friends. You could spend more time during the week with your friends if you are allowed to have shorter time slots (but more slots) to work through out the day and longer breaks. Basically, you would be able to work more, and take slightly longer breaks. This does mean that you may have to always be on a schedule. But why should that matter if you are emotionally sound (this means you have friends that you see throughout the day). This would also eliminate the need to forge friendships with coworkers you do not want have a friendship with. You may want to only be cordial during the time periods that you see them.

There are many more positive outcomes of this type of style or way of running a business. As for tracking your employees, and actually knowing how efficient they are is not another question. The efficiency is highly likely to show through the work that they do per time slot. Every time they enter into a program, the program or software should record them entering. This will prevent them from having to record it themselves, and the employer to have to record it manually. Essentially what you (the employer/business manager/owner/supervisor) would have is an automated system of recording when employees clock in. A problem with this whole way running a business is this: are your employees doing the most work that they could do? I believe this is the problem with almost every business.

Your business may generate more revenue at the end of the month, each month for the entire time that is open or alive. But, are they actually doing the most that they can do? I believe that is the reality of micromanaging. This is probably something the employer may not need to worry about as long as his or her business is doing well in the market. However, competition is always fierce. So, an business owner might consider looking into how much effort each of their workers are really putting in.

By malik23 — On Nov 23, 2011

I have never read this before. I actually had some of the same ideas as far as working. I am a college student, preparing to work for this company. I would have applied earlier, but I have to get my life together. I totally agree with having shorter hours, but more time slots throughout the day for work. I feel that it would be more beneficial to do it that way because that will allow employees to set up dates with their friends, time periods to work and time periods to balance other aspects of their lives. This will eliminate the time needed to actually take breaks while employees are on the clock. I believe this way would be most effective for businesses that have people working in cubicles or offices.

There is already a community within the building. There is now technology such as Oovoo (to see friends not in the same location as you). People can seek out other coworkers that they actually like within the entire building. People can also Oovoo a friend or two during their extended break. This would mean that many employees would still be inside the building during break time. But, if the building is big, it probably would be best to just leave it open instead of closing it, depending on how long the break is, and how fast (on average) does it take for the employees to get out of there.

Of course, this idea may not work for all business. However, it may be best for medium sized businesses.

By plaid — On Nov 22, 2010

@empanadas - I think the Facebook Generation has it pretty good if you ask me. And while your points on not having to pay for daycare and not paying for gas are very valid, I should point out at this time that working from home isn't as great as everyone thinks it is. I work at home as a freelance writer and you sacrifice a LOT when it comes to socialization. Add that to being in a very remote area and you could go stir crazy.

I live 30 miles from the nearest big name store chains and it's okay, but working from home and living around a community of older, retired people is just a living nightmare, let me tell you. Working from home through social networking and such has its positives and negatives just like any other job. And let me tell you, it is NOT limited to just the Facebook Generation - I am a Millennial.

By empanadas — On Nov 22, 2010

@doppler - There are definitely a lot more work at home or work from home opportunities available now for the Facebook Generation, that's for sure. I don't think they should be discounted as lazy, however. And I see your point on the whole work at home, sacrificing social interactions. However, people who work at home are also SAVING money by not having to pay for daycare or commute either.

By doppler — On Nov 22, 2010

@bbpuff - If you mean that people are getting lazy because they are finding ways to work from home through Social marketing then I definitely disagree with you. I think the people that have found a way to work through the recession and all this mess we are currently in are gutsy and innovative. I think that they have put a lot of their lives on the line in order to find work from home and compromise on socializing OUTSIDE of the home JUST to do work.

By bbpuff — On Nov 22, 2010

@anon11620 - Yes, I think there is a lot of lying online, to put it bluntly, but I also think that these social networks are allowing people to not face reality. In a way, I completely agree with you, but in another I take the extreme side and say that it is just pure, lazy, selfishness going around, too.

By anon111620 — On Sep 17, 2010

It worries me that the generation Y or F will not retain the need for personal socialization skills. I also wonder how much truth is conveyed with social networking. We can virtually create how we wish to be viewed. But, on a positive note, I can see the plus side to corporations introducing this technology to save an incredible amount of money.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
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