Facebook, Where Fairytales Happen

If you are a Facebook user chances are you've engaged in some kind of anecdotal cyber-experience. Whether it be reconnecting with a long lost childhood friend and learning that her movie personality (as you might have expected) is Grease II; catching your boyfriend writing inappropriate comments on the walls of inappropriately dressed girls; or striking an otherwise unattainable business deal, most of us have some story to tell about our interaction on the world's largest social network. But only few can stake claim to being a Facebook Miracle.

In the recently released Facebook Fairytales, author Emily Liebert explores the good side of social networking — the side that displays the best of the human spirit.

This may come as little surprise, but the most heartwarming stories are coincidentally Liebert favorites. "One of the most powerful stories, in my opinion, introduces Beth, a young mother from Scarsdale, New York, who received a kidney from a stranger named Cathy, another young mother from Tallahassee, Fla., thanks to a mutual friend’s status update, which read: 'I have a friend named Beth who needs a kidney donor. If you have type-O blood, please visit her website.' Beth was dying. She’d exhausted a dozen possible donors who matched her blood type, but who still weren’t compatible, and her prospects were growing dim," Liebert tells Tonic. "Cathy was so touched by Beth’s plight and felt that the fact that they both had daughters named Olivia meant it was kismet. She saved Beth’s life for no other reason than sheer generosity of heart and spirit. To me, this really demonstrates the profound impact of social networking, specifically Facebook."

But what is it exactly about Facebook that gives people the freedom — possibly even permission — to do things they otherwise might never do?

Like so many people born before 1980, Liebert was initially a Facebook skeptic, but all that has changed. "Through writing this book, I’ve come to realize that social networking, spearheaded by Facebook, is a cultural revolution. It’s fundamentally changing the way people in our society communicate for personal and professional purposes." Facebook gave Liebert their blessing, and an interview with CEO/Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, serves as a compelling foreword to the book.

Liebert tells Tonic that Zuckerberg chalks Facebook's success up to authenticity. "Mark pointed out that there are various social networking sites where people share information, but none of them is as authentic as Facebook," says Liebert. "Your profile represents you and when you receive a message from someone or view their wall post, their picture is right there next to it. In Zuckerberg's words, "That makes it human." Liebert couldn’t agree more.

In a day and age where snark is as good as currency, the generally friendly vibe on Facebook is truly refreshing. "What I’ve noticed through my interactions on Facebook, specifically in relation to my work on this book, is that it’s generally a "happy place" where people support each other, offer thumbs up and share good news. I’ve found that when someone reaches out to me through the site, it’s typically for a positive reason and there’s usually an upbeat tone to the message. I’ve had tremendous professional support — unsolicited support at that — which I think is very rare in the media industry. So, Facebook has really facilitated those kinds of interactions."

Facebook Fairytales strikes the perfect balance of personal, professional and quirky stories — all uplifting of course. Facebook Founding Father Chris Hughes's story speaks to the seemingly limitless possibilities technology will lend the next generation, and others might just make you cry. (I did; on the subway. Consider yourselves warned.) The really good news is that there are more of these kinds of stories to be told. Liebert even hinted that Facebook Fairytales could have Chicken Soup for the Soul legs. While all that remains to be scene, one thing is for sure: Facebook is helping us get in touch with sometimes forgotten elements of humanity namely kindness, generosity and love by helping us remember that we are all, really connected.

Photos courtesy of Emily Libert.