Today, hundreds, maybe thousands of miles separate families. Schools are overcrowded and budgets have been cut so drastically that just getting an appointment with a guidance counselor may be a greater challenge than a comfortable conversation.

While it’s widely recognized that lifestyles turned inside out with the expansion and popularity of electronic communication, there are other factors that demonstrate that young people enjoy a broader support system than their parents did, and not all of it originates from the World Wide Web.

Often identified as Generation Y, The Net Generation, Millenials, Echo Boomers and iGeneration, this group is defined more by media, pop culture and market research than the year its members were born. For this purpose, I spoke with individuals born between 1976 and 2001, a common time span.

What is surprising is that while this group of 20-somethings has most every bit of information at their fingertips, it’s not one that constantly demands bigger and better, a trait that is commonly shared by generations before it. This generation saw their parents committed to one or two jobs for their working lives only to become unsatisfied or unemployed. The generation before this is one developed a reputation for being self-obsessed and driven by stature if not money, simply by title.

Generation Y grew up with the Internet. It realizes that it has control. Members of this group know they can navigate their own professional and personal course, all while they build and sustain relationships with family and friends.

While one generation made a beeline for independence that often resulted in frayed ties with family and friends, this one has made connecting with others a priority. This change in attitude and growth of a better-educated workforce has forced businesses to incorporate work-life balance practices into their benefits packages. Instead of paying them wages and health insurance (the latter which is increasingly being removed from company expenses), businesses offer perks such as continuing education, access to health/wellness programs or remote work opportunities to their young talent in an effort to keep them happy. These businesses, many of which were built on the premise that 99.9 percent of their employees’ time was committed to the enterprise, also came to realize the importance of family and friends to this generation and know that if they don’t accommodate them, they’ll lose them. The latter option can be costly for a business.

Ryan Stephens, who recently relocated to Charlotte, N.C., said that there are reasons why he believes he has a stronger support system than those born before him.

“I think there are a couple of distinctions. One, our parents, grandparents, etc., seem to want to have a larger role in our lives,” Stephens said (http://ryanstephensmarketing.com/blog/). “Provided that they’re not doing it for us  — and I know plenty that do — I think it’s great. When I am really conflicted, my parents do a great job of talking about important issues with me.

“It’s a completely honest process, no posturing the way you might with friends or colleagues.”

Andrew Nathan also said his family is his greatest bolster.

“My family is my most important support system,” Nathan said. “Whenever something is weighing heavily on my mind I know I can speak with my parents or fiancée. Additionally, I have a number of close friends that I can also always count on.”

Social networking with services that include Facebook (http://www.facebook.com), MySpace (http://www.MySpace.com), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com) has added yet another dimension to the way people help and support friends, colleagues and family. Even males, tabbed throughout history as rough, tough and independent to their cores, are finding value among like-minded people they meet through these and other social media outlets.

“I typically think of my friends and family as my primary support, but I also think that people I’ve encountered online via social networking are capable of being support systems as well,” Stephens said. “They are unique in that they can be a bunch of niche support systems. I can connect with the Brazen (http://www.brazencareerist.com) crew to be my support system on all things GenY, and guys I interned with for Seth Godin for innovative thought and action.”

Stephens is modest about the support offered by those in remote locations.

“I am flattered that many others have reached out and connected with me. For others to see me as influential in this space is very humbling, and helps keep me passionate about pumping out content and continuing to expand my online support systems.”

Gail Sideman is a publicist born toward the end of what is known as the Baby Boomer generation. Despite learning how to write with a pencil and pen, then graduating to a typewriter in college, she enthusiastically embraces all that’s electronic, and is enjoying the benefits of social media. Find out more about Sideman at http://www.publiside.com www.twitter.com/PUBLISIDE and Facebook: 701444938

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How many times do you read somebody’s profile at a social networking site, and then devour everything they’ve written because the profile sounds so interesting?

Almost never. But last week on Twitter, I stumbled across Judy Lederman’s profile:

It clearly passes the 10-second test. That’s the barometer that social media strategist Nancy Marmolejo uses to determine whether she stays on somebody’s Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn page, or bails out.

“Within 10 seconds of visiting your social networking profile, a prospective client, alliance partner, or media contact must be able to understand who you are and why they should follow you,” Nancy says. “Most people’s profiles are a hodge-podge of information. A good number are unsure how to balance personal and professional details, so they either leave them out entirely or throw in the kitchen sink. Both are bad strategies.”

Help is on the way

Nancy, of Viva Visibility, will be my guest during a paid teleseminar called “Can Your Social Networking Profile Pass the 10-second Test?” From 4 to 5:10 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Feb. 11. You’ll get the tools you need to spruce up your social networking profile so it’s crystal clear who you want to connect with and why you’re a valuable, attractive contact. We’ll discuss:

• 5 simple things to remember when creating your social networking profile
• How to tweak a profile so it fits the culture of different sites like Linked In, Facebook and Twitter
• SEO tips that will generate valuable “Google juice” and draw traffic to your profile pages, like this this tip on how to get Google juice from your LinkedIn profile.
• Common mistakes even the most experienced professionals are making
• Examples of great profiles
• How to write a profile for a niche social networking site

You’ll also get a link to a one-hour webinar Nancy is hosting that goes into even greater depth than what we might get into on the call, including more specific examples of profiles.

PR folks and publicists, you’d be crazy not to attend this one. Your clients need this kind of guidance! The teleseminar, MP3 download, electronic transcript and webinar link are $49.95. Sign up for the teleseminar here.

Let Nancy remake your profile

As a special treat for my Hounds, Nancy will give a live “profile makeover” to one lucky caller. You must first register for the call in order to be eligible for the makeover.  Then tell us in the comments section below at this blog why we should choose your profile for the makeover.

See you Feb. 11.

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With the onset of Blogging and Social Networks such as MySpace and Facebook, the word “transparency” has become akin to revealing all in public. Sometimes casually referred to as “over sharing,” early bloggers talked about everything including their deepest, most private feelings. Photos were being posted on social web sites that revealed drunkenness, partial nudity, or people depicted in violent situations.  Now we have “tagging,” where information can be randomly added to someone’s photo, with or without his or her knowledge.

All is done in the name of being and remaining “transparent.”

How does “transparency” come back to haunt you as an entrepreneur or new college grad looking for a good position at a worthwhile company? A lot of HR Departments are now vetting potential employees on Facebook and MySpace. They can do a simple Google search and find your blog – or literally your online “diary,” where you have revealed not only your deepest thoughts and concerns about yourself, or your religious or political beliefs… but you’ve revealed too much of yourself that may hinder you getting the position that you are interviewing for.

A lot of professional web sites such as LinkedIn have a “profile meter.” Asking you to not only include professional information about yourself – but also personal information. All geared toward someone getting to know you better. Transparency.

However, now is the time to become a bit more “authentic” and less transparent. Let’s learn how to deal with our external world, the business world, by being faithful to our external ideas and judgments about business, clients, prospects, and peers. Being authentic to universal external concepts and perspectives regarding honesty, business etiquette and the reciprocation of ideas, and being open to the perspectives and ideas of others you are doing business with. While remaining faithful to your internal ideas… but keeping much of these ideas and perspectives to oneself…or at least on a personal blog or profile and away from the eyes of your external word…the business world.

Cd Vann a.k.a. Thatwoman_soho , owner of sohobiztube.com and Publisher of Magazine Soho is passionate about remaining less “Transparent” and more Authentic when participating in professional and social networking circles. She enjoys a good glass of wine and a chocolate cigar.

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In terms of professional networking, Facebook can be a Godsend or a detriment, depending on how you use it. If you’re looking to expand your business circle via Facebook, by all means go for it! But just know that there are certain unspoken rules of conduct that can make or break the experience. Below you’ll find some suggestions that I learned about the hard way:

1. Don’t get sucked in by time suckers! Time suckers can be people, or they can be applications, or they can be both. For example, I’ve found that if you make a daily habit of passing Lil Green Patch plants back and forth on Facebook, you’ll find that a good chunk of your productive time is lost.

Wouldn’t it just be a lot better (and more fun), to dig a REAL “lil green patch” right in your own back yard? The point is, know the difference between an investment in time (taking a moment to converse with someone new on a topic of value) versus a time-waster (adding 20 friends each day, but never bothering to introduce yourself or see what they’re up to/into).

2. Strike a balance between professional and personal. If you’ve given clients access to your Facebook page, but you’ve also got every person you’ve ever dated on there, plus your first grade teacher and your dear old Aunt Myrtle, there may be occasional uh-oh moments when some information about you slips out that you’d rather certain people not learn about.

Sure, it may be fun to post those outrageous photos of your first frat house kegger, but if you know that your colleagues would not hold you in quite the same regard upon viewing these, then you may want to think twice. Another option is to take advantage of the “Make Private” feature that comes with every photo album. Granted, such precautions take time, and we discussed in point 4 that Facebook frequently results in lost time. So use your discretion about what you share and with whom!

3. Limit the number of times you log in per day. You might be worried that you’re missing out on something, or that someone is trying to reach you on Facebook and how will you know if you don’t log in? There are ways to combat this, of course.

First, make it very clear ON YOUR PAGE that if people need to contact you, they should please email you at (your email address). There are a number of spots where you can leave this message, including your status update, your contact info, your Personal Information, and especially that handy little box in the left-hand sidebar where you can basically write whatever you want. Second, put a stop to those pesky Facebook alerts that quickly stack up in your email inbox (more on that in Point 4).

4. Re-route your Facebook email alerts. Instead of having Facebook updates pouring into your work email and rendering you utterly useless for a major portion of your day… designate a “junk email address” for this purpose. If you don’t have a junk email address, open a new account with Yahoo, Hotmail or Gmail and then configure your FB account so the new alerts arrive there.

Next, to further eliminate unnecessary temptation, go to the Facebook Preferences area, and uncheck all the boxes that have you receiving email alerts every time one of your friends sneezes. You don’t need to read every single response on the chain of comments that have accumulated beneath your pal’s rodeo-themed birthday party. You don’t need to log in and find out for certain what time people are planning to hit the hay!

For your sanity and your future, I would advise you strongly against allowing a running Facebook-themed commentary to drive your every action (or should I say inaction, since you will inevitably accomplish nothing while hooked up to this productivity and energy sucker!).

5. Juice up your professional profile. Even if you don’t own your own business, the idea that Facebook might put you in touch with your future employer, someone who may one day want to outsource work to you, or even just professional people who may have answers to your questions is far more important than knowing who joined the I Love Bacon fan club.

You should be thinking of Facebook not only as a fun place to connect, but also as an excuse to market your professional skills. Take some time to write up a career profile for yourself, explaining your talents and abilities, what skills you have been formally trained in, and what your career aspirations are for the future. Also share a bit about yourself – your musical interests, your hobbies and so forth, to add a bit of levity and human interest – the crowd-wow factor. Know, though, that the professional part is really what’s going to help people take you seriously!

6. Don’t feel pressured into doing anything you don’t want to do. Everybody has their own ideas on what Facebook should be used for. Some people just go on a friend-adding rampage in the hopes that they’ll get that big career break or make that big sale. Others refuse to let anyone other than people who they personally know view their page. Some folks make a big deal of clicking on those little gifts and things that go to charitable causes. (I’m still not exactly sure how that works, but my feeling is that if you’re in a charitable mood, there are tons of things you can do in the real world, like volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating a portion of your business proceeds to a worthy cause, or ditching plastic bags at the grocery store in the effort to go green.)

Still others are sharing photos of their kids (no big deal to some, but very personal and “risky” to others!), passing out “drinks” to help their friends get “virtually intoxicated” and updating their status multiple times per day. If the action doesn’t align with your values or your comfort level, then don’t feel pressured to jump on the bandwagon. Nobody’s twisting your arm to join the Bible Verses Club, and nobody can force you to be their FB friend if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.

7. Avoid spamming people if at all possible. Those who use Facebook as a marketing vehicle, beware the temptation to spam your pals! Sure, we all get excited when we’ve created a new program, discussion group or what-have-you. But think about how irritating it is to get emails that you didn’t sign up for. That’s as big of a problem on Facebook – and furthermore, once your Facebook inbox starts filling up with messages from all kinds of marketers, it makes it that much more difficult to dig through and locate that “one real message” that contains somewhat important information.

8. Erect boundaries so you don’t end up on the 12-step Facebook Recovery Program! If you’re starting to feel like a Facebook junkie, not to worry… there are now groups forming on Facebook to address the very problem of Facebook addiction! Good news for all of us: with just a few little Jedi Mind Tricks, this is something we can all get better control of.

For one thing, there’s no need to connect Facebook to your mobile phone or Blackberry. Instead, try paying attention to more important things when you’re out and about, like whether there’s a car coming or if the guy in the stadium seat next to you might be leaning over to pick your pocket.

Whatever you do, try not to get too caught up in the alternate universe that is Facebook… keep it light yet professional. Take the time to get to know people, and have FUN.

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