Of all the things Facebook has given our society, the greatest, I believe, is that it has transformed the word friend into a verb.

Before the social networking site pervaded interactions, you could only make friends or be friends. On Facebook, you put up a page with your photos, as much personal information as you feel comfortable sharing and give status updates about what you’re up to.

If you want someone to be able to look at your data, to know if you are going out to dinner tonight, have to mow the yard or are so excited it’s finally Friday!, you can send a request to be their friend on Facebook. For short, you friend them.

The awkward social sentences this generates are manifold.

One of my best friends was shocked to learn I friended her new boyfriend. I countered that she posted she was “in a relationship” after two weeks of dating, so it was fair game.

A few weeks ago, I received a message that Steve Booher had requested to friend me.

You know Steve. He’s the editor who wants to cruise on his motorcycle without his helmet. I already consider Steve my real-life friend.

He’s also my boss.

I hesitated. Had I posted any status updates that suggested I was anything less than an enthusiastic, dedicated employee who woke up every morning eager to tear into the office and give it my all?

I use Facebook mainly to keep up with my nieces and nephews and some good friends. I think of it as a chance to be myself, not necessarily a professional journalist.

But I have also learned that anything posted online can become public. I’m not exactly a recluse, either, having hung up my online shingle at www.susanmires.com.

As more and more socializing takes place over the Internet, it becomes a treacherous landscape for employees. Unless workers are discussing organizing or collective bargaining, employers pretty much have free rein to censure them for activities exposed on the Internet.

At a workshop for small business owners, one boss said he would never consider “friending” someone from work on Facebook because he keeps his professional and personal lives separate.

That concept may work in some industries, but for a generation where Facebook is the primary means of communication, that’s like refusing to give your boss your home phone number.

I thought about refusing Steve’s request, then worried he would think I had something to hide.

I also realized that I had already friended my pastor. Surely I couldn’t have too much incriminating evidence on my Facebook page.

I’m pleased to report that Steve and I are now friends.

Business editor Susan Mires writes

a weekly column. She can be reached

at susanm@npgco.com.