At this point, I'm sure a lot of you are sick and tired of hearing about Facebook (FB) this week, but let's face it: over 800 million people are addicted to it, and it's not going away anytime soon. Now that Mark Zuckerberg and his crew of computer nerd aficionados are going public, it only makes sense that we finally talk about the Facebook app.

This week, however, let's ignore breaking down the app feature by feature, because really, I don't have the time to write about each and every aspect of it (I also wouldn't know where to start...), and you surely don't have time to read something of that size and scope. We're all very busy people here, so instead, let's just talk about the FB app's social significance.

Right away, let me first declare that while I do appreciate apps, I'm not easily convinced that they are an absolute life necessity. Water, oxygen, food, mating: those are necessities. An app? Hmm, not really, but some can be pretty damn important to certain people.

In the case of FB, I could be swayed into believing that it is a life necessity. Aside from what I find to be useless things like checking in, poking, and in-app games that have anything to do with barnyard animals, I think the FB app is of great significance to mankind.

Of course it can sometimes dominate hours upon hours of one's day when more productive things should be taken care of, but within those hours people are able to stay in touch with friends, family, acquaintances, idols, and world events. It's a one-stop shop for staying connected to the world, and therefore it is an absolute necessity. (Unless you prefer hanging out alone in a dark basement listening to Pink Floyd records backwards, in hopes of hearing a secret message that can accurately explain the world to you, that is.)

Over the past few months I have really come to realize the app's necessity, because lately so many people that have or have had a place in my life at one time or another are falling in love, getting married, having babies, celebrating anniversaries, and getting wicked new jobs. Meanwhile, those very same people are also reaching out to the biggest social network on the planet to ask a question, offer an opinion, or show an emotion. Most of this stuff I wouldn't have been aware of had it not been for the FB app.

We could all be better real life friends and family members, and call each other or go out for a rare in-person chat, but that's not always possible or felt to be necessary. With the FB app, you can get as close to someone on your friend's list as you want to be. You can choose to be fully engaged and engulfed in one's life, or you can just watch from the sidelines, just to see how he or she is doing.

There are instances where too much information is offered, and certain private matters should remain more private than a venue like Facebook allows, but again, nothing in terms of social contact, in-app or otherwise, is cut and dry or fool proof. Each user has to decide where to draw their own lines in the digital sand.

I'm very careful. I go for being clever, thoughtful, and funny without alienating anyone or saying something that may come back at me and slap me in the mouth. If people want 100% of me, they won't get it through FB.

I certainly understand those that think FB and its fearless leader Zuckerberg are the devil's spawn for what they represent, but honestly, these people simply need to go back to the idea of if you don't like something being broadcasted in your direction, turn it off.

I choose to turn Facebook on. I choose to broadcast select moments of my life, and I choose to have the privilege of staying in touch with people and watching aspects of their lives unfold. I get a great kick out of seeing posts by someone I went to elementary school with, talking about the family they've begun to build, and the experiences that are going along with that.

Most importantly, I choose to believe that the FB app and its portable nature is a vastly significant entity, and privilege. It has changed the way in which the world communicates, and for that, it should be applauded.

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