I was asked “What is Facebook?” by a friend in their 50s. He asked the question tongue in cheek. I answered it tongue in cheek. Or is this really the correct answer?

What is Facebook?

For The Older Generation (ie over 50):

A facebook is a printed booklet given to all freshmen at a US school or college with photos of all the students so you can identify who you fancy. Cool really.

For My Generation (ie 35 – 50):

Facebook is an interweb tool where EITHER people you’ve been avoiding for years suddenly find you and irritatingly make contact OR you stalk old girlfriends in the hope of a shag after you’ve been dumped or divorced.

For Our Children’s Generation:

Facebook is where you upload photos of your friends vomiting at school / university and wrecking all of your chances of finding a job.

For Business:

Facebook is fantastic marketing tool which insidiously sells people things through subliminal advertising and friend “recommendations” while pushing the bounds of privacy in the hope of making a quick buck.

Have you noticed how ageist this definition is too?