Alva James-Johnson: Let's all meet on Facebook

I remember my first days on Facebook. It felt a little weird reconnecting with all those long lost friends.

People whom I had no idea still existed popped up on my computer screen, and it wasn't only their faces, but their whole lives on full display. It was exciting, but also a little strange.

Well, now five years later, I've gotten use to the world of social media. In addition to Facebook, I'm also on Twitter and LinkedIn.

I've thought about Snapchat, but my daughters suggested I scrap that idea. It's apparently where all the teens hang out, and they don't want parents anywhere near there.

Oh, well. I guess connectedness has its limits.

But there's one trend in social media that is intriguing. And that's the ability to share news and other important information.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, Facebook is becoming to the news business what Amazon is to the book industry -- a way to reach countless readers. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, about 30 percent of U.S. adults now get their news on Facebook.

"Facebook now has a fifth of the world -- about 1.3 billion people -- logging on at least monthly," the article said. It accounts for up to 20 percent of traffic on news sites, and mobile devices are the fastest growing source of consumers.

I have seen this trend among my own Facebook friends. One former colleague, a Liberia native, constantly posts all the latest news on Ebola. Others are into more quirky information. One friend recently shared a BusinessInsider.com article headlined "Researchers Have Found That Plants Know They Are Being Eaten."

That one definitely got my attention. While reading it I learned about a University of Missouri Study that found that plants send out defense signals when they sense they're being consumed. Vegetarians, like me, were told to beware. And I really appreciated the warning. I wouldn't want to be caught off guard when attacked by a cauliflower.

Yes, the world has become a very interesting place.

But instead of fretting about the by-gone days of print journalism, I've decided to join the revolution, while at the same time praying that newspapers and books never go away.

Two weeks ago, I started a separate Facebook page for my stories and columns. But I don't want it to be only about what I have to say. I also want to hear what you are thinking about issues in our community.

If you're on Facebook, just join the conversation at www.facebook.com/AlvaJamesJohnsonLedger. And let's explore the world of social media together.

See you there!

Alva James-Johnson, reporter, ajjohnson@ledger-enquirer.com.

This story was originally published October 30, 2014 at 9:34 PM with the headline "Alva James-Johnson: Let's all meet on Facebook."