In 2004 at my college newspaper office, a handful of friends and I created our profiles on this new website designed to connect us to our classmates. I had to enter my name and basic information, upload a photo, divulge my relationship status (“Single”), and find my classes on a dropdown menu. Soon I’d be able to see other classmates’ profiles. I could talk to a classmate about our work, schedule study sessions and, maybe, get to know that cute one a little more (I could “poke” someone).
It was exciting being one of the first couple thousand people on this website connecting college kids. TheFacebook.com was our own little sanctuary; soon, more and more colleges would connect to the site – it felt like a little bubble for a small sect of people across America.
Fourteen years later and the world is connected to Facebook. Moreover, it’s one of the most ubiquitous things about society – Facebook has become a part of daily life for nearly everyone. It’s also dangerous, contributing in the American political divide while being a haven for information that has definitely been compromised.
And today, if you’re not at Citi Field, it’s the only way to watch the Phillies game.
Gametime: 1:10 p.m.
How to watch: Log onto facebook.com. If you’re not on it, create a profile (I’m sorry). When logged on, search for “MLB Live.” Then click on MLB Live.
The lineup:
Pitchers: Aaron Nola (5.1 IP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Noah Syndergaard (6 IP, 1-0, 6.00 ERA)
I’m excited to watch 16 Phillies strike out today next to some dumb Minion meme (those are still a thing right?).
The only player old enough to actually be on Facebook when it launched? Carlos Santana.
Your Gameday Beer: In honor of this Facebook thing, I’ll recommend the beer I was drinking in 2004, as a dumb underage college student: Heineken. I knew everything back then.
Go Phillies!