I'm an absurdly late - but earnest - Facebook user. Credit (or blame) our friends at Netcentric Campaigns for convincing me to give it a try. I did the basics, omitting details such as how my wife of nearly 25 years and I "hooked up," for example. And I signed onto a couple of "groups" and "causes." (My favorite group remains "Over 40 is Facebook Creepy," a position our 17-year-old son loudly supports.)

If Facebook can help realize the potential of social networks for social change, the groups and causes are - presumably - where this can happen. Karen Showalter of Netcentric and her trusty intern Sarah helped me understand which is which:

"Facebook Causes and Groups...[b]oth facilitate distribution of news through the creation of an online community within Facebook that shares similar interests, passions, or social concerns.

Groups are established to bring awareness to an issue, connect a group, or just for fun, but have no affiliation with an organization.

Anyone on Facebook can create a Group. Groups can be open (anyone can join or invite people), closed (group membership must be confirmed by the administrator), or secret (only those in the group can see the groups’ webpage). Groups are monitored solely on the basis that they do not discriminate against people or organizations.

Causes are used to raise awareness, keep members up-to-date, and raise money for an American or Canadian [nonprofit]... The feature provides free marketing and access to a large pool of donors (Facebook members). Requests to start a Cause must be approved by Facebook administrators. Causes must be linked to nonprofit organizations.

Anyone can join or donate to any cause. Members of Causes can then donate money and recruit others to support [the] cause. Statistics of membership recruitment and donations are visible to members."

I'm touched that three or four people joined causes after I "recruited" them. And a few more may have kicked in their $10 to help a nice group in Burkina Faso gain ground in America's Giving Challenge. But I don't see a clear-cut advantage over just sending out an e-mail to tell my friends about my latest enthusiasms. What am I missing?

Maybe I need some cooler applications, and The Onion (America's Finest News Source) once again has the answers.