As my close-knit of friends would know, and the same goes for all of you reading this through my Facebook notes, I never did reduce the time I spend on Facebook like I said I would. Sometime last year, I had said that Facebook was about having too much information. At the time, I had said that not only do some of us over-share, but in return we tend to know more than what we would want to know about people we are not necessarily close with.

But I’ve since found a happy middle ground with the things that I share and I’m enjoying the reaction and comments that I get. Some people may view that a friendship that exists purely on Facebook may not be as substantial as one outside of it, but I find that the social interactions can be just as fulfilling.

I think that if you use Facebook to augment your “real life” relationships and not to supplant it, that’s where it’s true value as a tool lies. As its tag line says, you can use it to connect with people whom, because of the tyranny of time and distance, you don’t connect enough with. And it can enrich an already good relationship. That is why I think that the interactions are as real as those conducted face-to-face or over the phone, even though some are quite frivolous (does anyone still “poke”?).

As an example of the good that it can bring, today is my birthday and I didn’t really expect much from the day because I’ve already had celebrations earlier with family and friends. As I was commuting to work, the birthday wishes started trickling in and it didn’t stop for the whole day. As I am writing this now, they continue to come in.

Friends, new and old, near and far, and relatives in other states and countries have all said happy birthday to me. I’m quite sure that the only reason that I’m getting more birthday wishes than normal is because Facebook has made it easier for people to leave a few words, and as a result, it has allowed me to feel more popular than I normally would.

Yes, I feel very popular right about now. So thanks Facebook! Feeling good didn’t cost me a thing today.