Starting out as a place for Harvard students to connect with one another, Facebook is poised to be the next big thing to come out of the Web—the next Google, some think. And Google, it should be noted, turns 10 years old in a few months. While Facebook hasn’t replaced MySpace as the signifier for the under-25 crowd, it’s rapidly getting there; soon, the MySpace generation will be the Facebook generation.

But, like Google, Facebook is quickly being adopted by older users. Its growth rate is so remarkable that Microsoft is investing $240 million in equity and a hefty advertising deal for the site. Its founder, 23-year-old Mark Zuckerburg, fended off Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs and Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt to debut as number one on Silicon.com’s list of top agenda setters for 2007. Why the hype? Facebook has grown from 7 million members in early 2006 to more than 50 million members today.

Among those members is Vinh Nguyen, a member of the AFCEA Central Maryland Chapter and vice president for communications for the chapter’s Young AFCEANs. He’s been experimenting with using Facebook to promote meetings and network with other professionals, while also using it to stay in touch with friends from college.

AFCEA and SIGNAL Magazine are now on Facebook, as well. AFCEA members who already are on Facebook can join by clicking on AFCEA’s group, AFCEA International, or by doing a search for AFCEA and looking for the AFCEA logo. AFCEA members who would like to sign up for a Facebook account can visit www.facebook.com.

Members who join can invite their colleagues by using the invite function of the group, and they will be able to post links of interest, events, photos and comments.

Through Facebook, AFCEA members will be able to network nationally and internationally with people who share their interest in command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technology. The platform is highly customizable as well, with applications that allow participants to post multimedia, share photos, create event invitations and discuss news and current events.

The secret to Facebook’s success might be that it’s organized around real-world communities. Account holders are limited in how many networks they can join and must prove their affiliation with alumni or corporate networks. Its registration process helps block out spammers, and it has customizable privacy controls.

For more information about Facebook or any other of SIGNAL Magazine’s social media initiatives, contact New Media Editor Helen Thompson.