Granted, Facebook does allow friends to keep in touch, but does it strengthen connections with friends? Or does it go deep as just looking at photos and writing on walls?
I don't think any website can strengthen your connections with friends; you have to do that yourself. That said, if I wanted to invite a friend over for tea, I can:
1. Email
2. Call his/her cell
3. IM
4. Leave a message on the FB wall.
I don't like to do 2 or 3 because they are real-time or require availability. For me, there's no difference in 1 or 4.
2. I guess internet spoiled by letting me be an active participant (i.e. reading and commenting on news). I actually find TV to be boring if not done as a social activity: going out with friends to see a movie, for example.
3. Reddit, news.YC, and smaller niche sites (Center for Responsible Nanotechnology) do it for me.