Quick Facebook Question

ceenindee · May 21, 2011

Ok, so I have a universe where the supernatural has always been "out," and I imagine facebook having a "species status" so people could look at someone's personal info and see if they're human, the same way you'd look to see if someone was straight or single or religious or anything else.

But obviously that doesn't actually exist...so am I still allowed to attribute it to facebook? Or do I have to settle for something generic, like "online profile." I'd rather not if I didn't have to, because people don't talk that way.

Kindness · May 21, 2011

Honestly, I have no clue, but that's a great idea

I'm sure the book you're writing is going to be pretty amazing stuff.

strawberryblondie · May 21, 2011

I don't know either, but you can always make up your own social networking site.

kaitlin008 · May 21, 2011

I agree with the idea of making up your own social networking site. Even if it's laid out so that people would picture it as Facebook. It also helps your book not date so quickly.
Also: I think this sounds totally cool

fredXgeorge · May 21, 2011

Ooh cool idea. I agree with making up your own social networking site.

mickeyDs4 · May 21, 2011

Sarah Dessen made up her own. Ume.com.

ceenindee · May 22, 2011

Ok, it sounds like maybe the made-up website is my best shot. (I was also a little bit worried about dating, but Facebook is something I've seen in published works before, so I wondered if it was fair game.)

Vaguely Piratical · May 22, 2011

How substantial is the use? If it is mention, like having a character get a Coke, you'll probably be fine. Insubstantial use without potential to harm Facebook's commercial viability is unlikely to go against you at court (if facebook pushed it).

If it is central to the story it becomes substantial use, then you want to make up your own.

ceenindee · May 22, 2011

It's just one scene. I don't see how it could be harmful, but it isn't true to life either.

Melusine33 · May 22, 2011

If you have an alternate universe, then presumably you've changed lots of things in everyday life to account for the presence and awareness of the supernatural. So I don't see any reason why you couldn't posit that Facebook would have a status label like that in this alternate universe!

That said, I agree that making up your own social networking site would help avoid dating the book.

AutumnLeaves · May 22, 2011

I agree with the others about making up your own social networking site. A few years ago, MySpace was "the site", and now it's pretty obsolete. Who's to say Facebook will be around years from now?

Quick Facebook Question

ceenindee

Kindness

Back From My Self-Imposed Exile

strawberryblondie

kaitlin008

Seeing newness all the time

fredXgeorge

I heart sexy elves and wizards.

mickeyDs4

ceenindee

Vaguely Piratical

ceenindee

Melusine33

AutumnLeaves

:)