You might think that 18-24 year olds would make up Facebook’s biggest demographic; however the group that is ahead by almost 4% is the 35-54 age group: your parents.

 According to www.facebook.com, in 2010 they reported having over 500 million active users. The average user spends more than 55 minutes on Facebook each day and mobile Facebook users spend 50% more time on Facebook than non-mobile users. Now, who makes up this huge number? Users from the age of 35 to 54 make up the largest group at 29%. Those are the ages of most high school students’ parents. What the heck are they doing on Facebook?

 These are international statistics, but that doesn’t mean that the numbers in our area aren’t similar. Many parents and teachers in Black River Falls have profile pages on Facebook, just like several students at Black River Falls High School. At first, students found the idea of adults on Facebook–a site originally created by and for college students–a little creepy, but in the past couple of years it has become more acceptable and normal.

 Freshman Maddy Hoffman has been a Facebook user since February 2010. Her older brother and sister along with both of her parents are on Facebook, and it doesn’t seem to bother her much.

 “My mom comments on my statuses and pictures sometimes, but it doesn’t bother me,” said Maddy.

 “My dad has a Facebook, but we aren’t [Facebook] friends,” said senior Taylor Johnson, “It would be weird, so we have a mutual no Facebook-stalking agreement. It works out pretty well.”

 In addition to our parents taking over Facebook, grandparents are on their way up there, too. There aren’t a lot of them yet, however the 55+ age group had the biggest growth from 2009 to 2010.

 “Both of my grandmas have Facebook. It’s funny because they don’t get how to do some things on the site,” said Hoffman.

 As high school students become more comfortable seeing their parents in their daily newsfeed, they are realizing that it is actually convenient to be connected with family in different parts of the country through the internet.

 “It’s one more way to stay connected. It’s not as good as a phone call or a letter, but it’s positive to stay in contact with family,” said a high school parent.

 Recently, students also find themselves awkwardly running into their teachers on Facebook, whether it’s because they’re friends or a friend of a friend.  Many teachers at the BRF middle and high schools have personal guidelines when it comes to accepting friend requests from students.

 “[I will be friends with a student] when they have been out of high school for two years,” said FCS teacher Sarah Halverson. “That doesn’t mean I will be friends with every student, but with the ones that I still keep in touch with after they graduate.”

 “I’m friends with Ms. Shaw on Facebook,” said Maddy Hoffman, “but she’s also my godmother.”

 As you can see, there are exceptions to the unwritten rules of Facebook. Does this mean that one day we will all be friends? It’s hard to tell at this point. For now, students will continue to be active Facebook users, while only sometimes avoiding their parents online.