Can We Blog?

Last summer my daughter set me up with my very own Facebook account.  What began as a whim has evolved into a habit (one that’s not so secret anymore!).  I must confess that every morning I check my Facebook page to find out if I have any new requests for “Friends,” and casually check my Home page for updates (new photo postings are my favorites).  At first I felt kind of creepy doing this; looking at personal photos of someone I don’t even know that well seemed like an invasion of privacy. But I quickly got over my initial queasiness and have even posted a few very carefully selected photos of myself posing with friends and family.

Facebook has put me back in touch with high school and college friends whom I haven’t seen or heard from in years.  Even my kids’ friends are “friending” me and, much to my son’s dismay, I can now gain a glimpse into his social life that he tries to keep very well hidden.  I do think it’s important for parents to know what their kids are putting on Facebook and even though my children are older I tell them repeatedly: “If you’re embarrassed to have me see your Facebook photos, then they shouldn’t be posted for the world to see.”

I’m not alone in my newfound passion for social media.  Pew Research Center analysis released last January found that 35 percent of adult Internet users now have a profile on at least one social networking site. Reconnecting with old friends is certainly a pleasant by-product of this vast social media network and another is the vast amount of information sharing that takes place.

Here at the magazine, we decided to launch this blog so we can stay better connected with our readers and advertisers.  Since we are a quarterly publication, a lot happens in between issues, and we hope that this blog can fill in the gaps somewhat.  With so many exciting events happening all over Wellesley, Weston, and Greater Boston, we can now post photos that we just don’t have room for in the magazine and publicize upcoming events.  We hope that you will use our convenient events calendar to publicize your own events.

Finally, we have this space for blogging.  I always have more to say than my Editor’s Letter allows so I’ll be posting frequently, and I encourage you to comment.  Our writers will also be blogging occasionally. But we also hope to hear from you.  Let us know what’s on your mind.  Do you have a favorite restaurant you’d like to review or a recipe you’d like to share?  Maybe you just took a spectacular family vacation and you’d like to tell everybody about it.  Or perhaps you have some back-to-school shopping advice or some tips for making your home greener.  
We’re excited about the WellesleyWeston Magazine Blog, and we hope you’ll visit often.  And now let the blogging begin!