The Facebook Identity Crisis

By Stefanie Hahn

Do you live your life as two people – one person at work and another person at home?

Probably not…

So why are you trying to be two people online???

I am seeing many of you with multiple identities on Facebook – the one you created for “work stuff” and the one that you created to share the rest of the stuff in your life.  In my humble opinion, this is a bad idea.  At its core Facebook is a social network.  Never forget that.  Not that you can’t get business from Facebook – you absolutely can – but I don’t think you will get business by posting your listings on your wall everyday and telling me to hurry up and buy before the $8,000 tax credit runs out.  In fact, I will probably break up with you on Facebook if I haven’t already.

From a practical standpoint, think about the time.  Maintaining one identity on Facebook can be time-consuming, but two… well now you’re talking second job.  And what about those friends that find you on the “wrong” identity?  Some friends might be both a “work” and “other” connection.  Do you add them as a friend under both of your Facebook accounts?  How annoying would that be for the added friend?  A quick post on the wrong wall and then what? Read more