Updated 11/18/2009 06:03 AM
Facebook co-founder visits CNY
Unfriend may sound unpleasant. But it's New Oxford American Dictionary's 2009 word of the year. Social networking sites like Facebook have revolutionized the meaning of some words and also the way people act. As our Kat De Maria tells us, one of Facebook's founders says the popularity wasn't expected, but isn't surprising.
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Wall. Status. Tag. They're old words with new meanings, thanks to social networking sites like Facebook.
The online phenomenon has also spawned new words, like the New Oxford American Dictionary's word of the year, unfriend. Or is it defriend?
"I'm going to go with defriend," said Chris Hughes.
Hughes is in a position to know. He's one of Facebook's founders. But he graciously defers to his users.
"It's just what my friends and peers say. I hear defriend. I don't hear unfriend," Hughes said.
The comment is indicative of Hughes' user-driven attitude toward Facebook, which started in his Harvard dorm room five years ago under a simple premise.
"It helps people connect to and share with the people they care about," Hughes said.
Facebook originally linked Harvard and other college communities. Now it boasts 325 million users worldwide, half of whom visit the site every day. Members are getting older and younger, and Hughes says he expects more and more people to join.
"Everyone has a reason to stay in touch with their friends and their family," Hughes said.
Hughes says he feels people have been responding so well to Facebook because of its privacy and utility. He says he views it as a tool that complements, not replaces, more traditional ways of keeping in touch.
"I believe on the whole, it's creating a more connected culture. And I think that's a good thing," Hughes said.
Although popular, Facebook hasn't been particularly lucrative. Hughes says the site didn't become profitable until last quarter. But maybe now he has a sense of the next big technology..?
"If I knew, then I would be able to make a lot of money!" Hughes said.
And although he says it's not the point, that's something Hughes might really be able to "like."
Chris Hughes is also responsible for creating my.barackobama.com, the now-President's online campaign effort.