Facebook

If you think that your relationship status updates, friend-ing and de-friending activities are going unnoticed by Facebook’s behind-the-scenes crew then think again. The T-shirt-clad data scientists, hackers, and brainboxes behind the internal workings of the social networking site are observing the ups and downs of the site's users with great interest.

But spilling the beans online, though tempting, may not be such a wise idea, especially if you’re going through a separation or divorce. As a recent post on the Globe and Mail site reveals, social media pages— from Facebook to online dating profiles—are starting to serve as evidence in divorce cases.

Will I be happy in four years? If so, how happy? If you ask yourself these questions as I sometimes do— and audibly while walking alone on the street, or sulking in the bathtub—don’t look to the universe for an answer, look to your Facebook profile picture.

The only difference between a small town and the Internet, in my opinion, is the population. There are more looky-loos online and more opportunities for public embarrassment for the most venial of social sins.

Social networking sites may be a little more like real-life encounters than they’re often given credit. Like a real conversation or exchange between friends, strangers, and acquaintances there is as much chance for a positive experience on a site such as Facebook as there is a negative one.