Facebook friends?

"And it's the best thing I've ever done," she declared with a flourish. While she was never one to share every cough and spit, she said it was all the posts other people published about their young children that had swayed her. As someone who shares anecdotes about my kids on Facebook, I was silently debating whether to get defensive or to justify it, but then decided to let my tongue loose on my wine instead - we were on a girls' night out after all- and hear her out.

Her view was that those youngsters whose lives had been chronicled so openly would grow up and be mortified by all the personal stories their parents (mostly mums) had made so public about them over the years. It's an interesting thought. I'm not alone among parents who share anecdotes about our children. I have close family and good friends who live in far-flung places so social media is a quick and easy way to keep in touch. The tales I post are to a select audience, using the privacy settings, are hopefully amusing rather than embarrassing, and unlikely to cause any future psychological harm. But my sons may tell me otherwise when they grow up, I suppose.

My friend's withdrawal from Facebook has sparked debate when I've mentioned it to others. Views are mixed. Some people refuse to be drawn in to the whole social media world, including my husband which means I know more than he does about the lives, the highs and losses of his closest friends, who are now dotted around the globe. Does that matter?They're still friends. And does someone's knowledge of our every movement make them a better friend?

He's not alone in his detachment from all that domestic detail, unlike many others who have fully accepted and endorsed Facebook's creeping invasion of our daily lives, ignoring any concerns about privacy or data-sharing for the convenience it brings. They become "friends" with everyone they meet, post updates on everything from complete domestic trivia to heartfelt comments about their hopes and fears, monologues about the meaning of life and even shared outpourings of grief which, once upon a time, would have only been shared with our nearest and dearest.

I confess to being a bit of a FB checker. It wasn't quite so addictive when I had to log on and wait for my laptop to slowly whirr into action but with a smart phone, I can instantly see the latest updates of friends. I know what sort of morning they've had before we even meet at the school gates; I've been reminded of someone's birthday or anniversary, sparing me the embarrassment of having otherwise forgotten; I know when someone's beloved pet has died and can add my voice to the growing messages of comfort. Does it enrich my life? Would I miss out without it? Probably not, but I'm nosy - by nature or as a virtue of my job as a journalist - and, quite simply, I like to know things.

However, this silent world of words can make for uncomfortable reading at times; I know more personal information about some acquaintances, and strangers they themselves write about, than I feel I ought to.

It's also a baffling place; a public forum where husbands and wives leave loving notes for each other for all to see, sometimes even when they're in the same room; where some parents present a picture of a perfect life when I, and no doubt others, know that behind closed doors they're at logger heads or struggling to cope with challenging children.

It's also a place that provokes debate, healthy or otherwise. I once posted what I thought was a fairly innocent comment, asking for tips on encouraging children to read, which prompted a bizarre tirade from a "friend" accusing me of being a competitive and pushy parent. I like to think the friend in question was having an off day....but I no longer seek advice.

Like or loathe it, it's a definite talking point. And it will be interesting to see if my friend stays away.