Social media — such a wide-ranging topic. How many of you are members of Facebook, LinkedIn or other social networking sites? I’m guessing a large number… but out of that number, what percentage are avid users? Those that check in several times a day to see what’s going on with their friends and to let friends know about their own activities. I confess I’m one of those avid users. It is sometimes irritating to see that some friends choose to post their every move but the contact you feel with those you can’t see on a frequent basis is very dear. Those who know me know that I have lived in many communities over my lifetime so I have many faraway friends, and Facebook has become my link to them. The site serves many purposes and usage of them varies from individual to individual.

The ability to post pictures, just for a personal example of a wedding, is fantastic. My son’s recent nuptials were posted for all to see within hours of the event. Babies become real to us as we watch them grow through the photos uploaded.

Then there are the games people play… you name it, you can do it on Facebook! Bingo, Jeopardy, Scrabble, just to name a few. You know what they say about using your mind on a regular basis — it will keep it working, so use it or lose it and playing games is an entertaining way to use it.

Sometimes we just want to get something off our chests, so to speak. At the top of the screen, there’s the place that asks “What’s on your mind?” It’s a great way to spark a debate and exchange opinions.

But there are more than the personal contact uses. The Valley Echo and many, many other businesses have their own Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, etc. If you use these sites, befriend or follow us. You’ll find information on upcoming stories as well as have the opportunity to tell us a little bit about what’s on your mind. We’re The Valley Echo on Facebook and @TheValleyEcho on Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you!