My 11-year old son now has a Facebook account, even though it’s not really legal for him to do so. He was wise enough to put his date of birth as 1989, even though the real one is 1998. This is actually a phenomenon that’s common among ‘tweens’ these days. It’s their only way of keeping up with their classmates and friends who are FB members too.

Obviously, it’s not only the latest video games and the zaniest shows on Jack TV that today’s youngsters are updated with. They’ve upped the ante by being in the loop also about what’s hot in social networking.Last year, the son signed up for Friendster; this year it’s Facebook. What’s next?

Judging from statistics, Facebook is here to rule the world - until the next social media phenom comes along, that is. It currently has an estimated 300 million users worldwide. In Southeast Asia, Facebook usage has zoomed from 24.8 million to 71.1 million, according to social media blogger Thomas Crampton. Twitter is also showing notable gains. Hit the hardest though is Friendster whose number of visits has been steadily decreasing.

At a glance, it’s easy to understand why Facebook is edging out Friendster, for instance. There are a host of factors why it leads. Among these are the design, ease of use, being highly interactive and having games which everyone seems to be addicted to.I don’t know why but everyone seems to feel like a superstar in Facebook.You can blog (post ‘Notes’) as well as post Status Updates and instantly get reactions from friends. There seems to be a scramble for he wittiest quotes and remarks, but that adds up to all the fun!

In my blog found at http://www.annalyn.net, I previously posted about “How to Know If You’re a Facebook Addict” and am gladly reposting it here:

1. Your everyday conversations with friends are peppered with references to Facebook, as in: ” wow! Couple X broke up already? I saw her post it this morning.”
2. Facebook is blocked in your office so you bring your own laptop with your own broadband connection.
3. You use Facebook Mobile. You surf Facebook even on your phone and when you feel the urge to, which is OFTEN.
4. You derive immense pleasure in showing off your old photos to everyone on your friends’ list, even if it takes 12 hours for you to scan them.
5. You think about your farm or your restaurant even when you’re at work or in a business meeting. You’re more worried that your plants will wilt and your food will be spoiled.
6. Even your friends are amazed at your level of prowess in Facebook games. You’re the Poker King, master farmer in Farmtown and gourmet queen in Restaurant City.
7. Google and Twitter come second in your life. FB has reached a point where it’s more important than work (ouch!)
8. You’re Miss Facebook Congeniality. You don’t really know too well half of your friends in your network.
9. You go out of your way to add friends.
10. You attend a party and your standard line is: “add me in Facebook plz!”
11. You attend a party and your standard line no. 2 is: “say cheese! This photo is for Facebook!”
12. You update your Facebook status five times a day.
13. You spend 20 minutes thinking of a witty status update.
14. You’re excited about your coming trip to the Bahamas (or insert name of place here). But you’re more excited at the prospect of showing it all off on FB.
15. You love FB so much, you’ve even grown to love those Facebook ads.
16. You met your boyfriend on Facebook.
17. Facebook chat has replaced Yahoo Messenger and Googletalk in your list.
18. You’ve deleted your Friendster account.