By Bryan Toh

NO, I do not have a Facebook account.

It is Friday night and I am catching up with a group of old friends whom I have not met in a long time. As we start to chat, the first question they ask me is: 'Eh Bryan, why can't we find you on Facebook?'

'Because I don't have a Facebook account.'

Gasps erupt, as if I'd just said something blasphemous. Sadly, for the few young people like me in today's world, it is.

Social networking sites have been on teenagers' 'Favourites' list ever since the birth of a certain Friendster. Nowadays, we have sites such as Meebo, Twitter and, of course, the social networking god that is Facebook.

My friends always give me reasons why I should start a Facebook account: It brings convenience into our lives; it lets us lead a healthy social life without actually having to leave our desktops; one can catch up with friends through the chat function, see what's up in their lives through their photos and even send gifts (albeit virtual ones) to them!

As a student, time is often the one thing that's not on my side. With Facebook, I could maintain a social life in a less time-consuming way.

There seems to be no downside, right?

Call me old-fashioned, but I don't believe in leading my social activities through the Internet. I have always preferred good old chats over dinner, or phone conversations. It just provides that extra tangible something which Facebook - or any other social networking site for that matter - doesn't give.

Which is why I'm not on Facebook.

Sure, it's interesting to see your friends tag you in pictures, do silly Notes they post or just find an old kindergarten mate, but are we in danger of becoming people who live our social lives on the Net?

I certainly hope not. Because then we'd be slaves to technology, and that wasn't what technology was created for.

In all fairness, Facebook has its perks, but just not enough for me to make it my social life management device.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for dinner with my friends.

The writer, 17, is a first-year mass communications student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.