This article discusses the impact of social networking sites on the formation and maintenance of social ties. It focuses on Facebook, which was initially designed to connect people with shared geographic locations, but has evolved to allow individuals to connect with others based on shared interests. The article argues that Facebook and other social networking sites can facilitate the generation of social capital by enabling the maintenance of existing social ties and the formation of new connections. However, the article also notes that there is little empirical research on the social capital implications of these services.