I imagine that some of you are already rolling your eyes after reading the title of this post. I now have a Facebook account. There is currently an alumni page on Facebook for past participants in the Harvard Stem Cell Institute’s Summer Undergraduate Interns Program . I have really enjoyed being a part of the interns program since it started three years ago and when I was asked to sign up for an account so that everyone could keep in touch, I did. Internships should not “end” when the summer is over but rather, are meant to be a continual resource for students when they are looking for professional contacts later on and importantly, letters of recommendation for advanced studies programs.

Now that I’m on Facebook (and since my lab mate Jason saw me signing up for it) I have become aware that I am… uh… older than most people on it. Er, older than everyone on it. Jason gave me good natured (i.e. ruthless) ribbing about my motivations for being on Facebook and told me to not write to any of his nieces (thanks man… you’re a real pal).

So, now I have the stupid account (and a few people have added me as “friends”, which is nice), but I’m paranoid to use it. I’ve read here and there about awkward moments that come from supervisors or managers joining such online networking sites only to find photos of employees or subordinates wearing a lampshade on their heads or doing body shots after a monster truck rally. I’m trying to avoid any discomfort that might come from former students knowing that I am part of the website by simply not looking at anyone’s posted materials. I’ll just let them come to me if they need anything and now they know where to find me.

That said, why should I even have the account if I’m not going to use it? It all seems a bit silly, especially the sometimes conflicting notions of privacy and access on the net (or interweb as people “my age” are supposed to say). It’s like an invitation-only yard sale or something. Whatever… for now, I’m on Facebook and until I decide to bail completely from using it, why don’t you kids do me a favor and lower the volume on that crap you call music? It’s giving me a headache…