As of September 30, 2013, Facebook claims to have 1.19 billion monthly active users, making it the largest social network in the world (Newsroom). Facebook has become a new phenomenon in today's society. While Facebook helps people connect, it can also cause problems for users. In recent years, since Facebook was founded in 2004, the number of Facebook users has grown rapidly. Although Facebook has become increasingly popular among college students, Facebook has advantages and disadvantages. Numerous social networking sites can be found on the Internet, but Facebook is the most popular site among college students. There are many reasons why Facebook has attracted so many users over the years. “Facebook is described as a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study, and live around them” (Chaulk 246). Many people use Facebook to connect with their friends and family. In order to register a Facebook account, a person must be willing to provide personal information. Facebook users are likely to create a profile that can include all the things they want to share with other people (Green 20). However, it could be dangerous if a person discloses their information because some people might steal it, causing problems and leaving mental scars. Facebook provides a place where people can share information and create connections with others by sending or accepting friend requests (Karl 214). For some people, Facebook connects people with others they already know or have met in real life. People use Facebook to engage in “social searching,” that is, to explore the people in their community offline (Chaulk 246). “Facebook seems to be like the American Old West: a vast, wild and somehow… middle of paper……ng. Tunheim Partners, 2013. Web. December 9, 2013. Green, Tim and Baynard Bailey. "Academic Uses of Facebook: Infinite Possibilities or Infinite Dangers?". Techtrends: Connecting Research and Practice to Improve Learning 54.3 (2010): 20-22. Elite academic research. Network. November 9, 2013.Karl, Katherine A. and Joy V. Plush. “Professors, Parents, and Bosses 'Friends': A Conundrum of the Facebook Connection.” Journal of Education for Business 86.4 (2011): 214-222. Elite academic research. Network. 10 November 2013. Press room. Facebook, 2013. Web. December 9, 2013. Peluchette, Joy and Katherine Karl. “Examining students' intended image on Facebook: 'What were they thinking?!'” Journal of Education for Business 85.1 (2009): 30-37. Elite academic research. Network. November 10, 2013. Wang, Qingya, Wei Chen, and Yu Liang. “The Effects of Social Media on College Students.” Scholarship for MBA Students November 1, 2011. Print.