My daughters were in college when Facebook first arrived online. Because only college students could join, I didn’t pay much attention. When Facebook went public, I didn’t consider joining. I spend enough time on a computer every day just doing my job, and I saw no benefit to adding another site to check. My daughters updated me on interesting postings from family members, their friends, and a few of my friends who had “friended” them.

When my nephew announced a second pregnancy on Facebook, I decided to join, mainly to know what was happening with my extended family that lives 600 miles away. I am a Facebook “stalker”—I rarely post on my wall but frequently check to see what my friends and family have posted. With the addition of a Blackberry to my technology accessories, I now have 24/7 access to personal and professional news.

According to an online dictionary, “social networking is a phenomena defined by linking people to each other in some way. Generally, social networks are used to allow or encourage various types of activity whether commercial, social or some combination of the two.”

In their intended use, social networks build relationships among people with common interests or activities. There are many avenues to connect, and the dynamic staff at ONS continues to ensure that ONS participates appropriately. ONS has a Facebook page, a Twitter feed, a photostream on Flickr, a LinkedIn group with other professionals, a blog (RE:Connect), and conference networking using CrowdVine (see Web Connect).

As with any technology development, many issues emerge as the innovation is implemented. With social networking, there are abbreviations to learn, etiquette rules to consider, and boundry issues that arise. Our topic this month is professional boundaries in social networking—where do we draw the line when a patient “friends” us? Two oncology nurses share their perspectives in our feature article, and members speak out in response to our You Tell Us question. Be sure to read the online articles this month for social networking guidelines (Staying on Top), how to take a “technology Sabbath” (Caregiver Care), and some specific oncology nurse blogs (Question Mark).

To continue the dialogue on this evolving topic, you may want to attend the ONS Congress discussion session on social networking or join in on any of the sites listed above. Whether you are a technology immigrant like me or grew up with technology and are a technology native like my daughters, you can enjoy the benefits of social networking both personally and professionally. ✱