One of the most exciting things about college life is the community the students become a part of. This can also be a difficult experience due to the numberless students on most college campuses. The challenge of connecting with peers is ever present for students who feel isolated or alone. Well, you don't have to be lonely anymore. Now you can find friends with the hot new "virtual yearbook" called Facebook.com. Founded in 2004 by a Harvard sophomore trying to get to know more of his classmates, Facebook has some 6 million members at more than 2,100 colleges nationwide. The experience Facebook provides is different than other sites like Myspace.com in that it features specific group access to university students, ultimately offering an intense sense of community.

On Facebook.com users have a personal page that they can update with pictures, personal information, and interactive blogs. By inviting friends they can post comments on their "friends'" site creating instantaneous interaction. Some users even claim that this site is the reason for their involvement in immense university populations. At Butler University over 70% of its student body logs on everyday to Facebook.com, some even five times a day! Why is this simple meeting place such a hit? People need validation and interaction; students want to feel involved in their school. The size of a college experience can be overwhelming in and of itself, as the valedictorian from high school is no longer the smartest on campus, and the star football player is now a bench warmer. Facebook.com will continue to progress because it functions through its users who become more creative and interactive in their use of the "meeting place".