On Friday, Meebo.com, the web-based instant messaging service, announced it was adding support for new IM networks for the first time in over 3 years:

Over the course of the day, we’re rolling out support for not one, but TWO new networks: MySpace and Facebook.  These are two of the biggest social networks in the world, and we’re sure many of you use them on a daily basis.

This means you don't actually have to be on the Facebook site in order to IM with people on your "friends" list. Adium, a multi-protocol IM client for Mac, added Facebook in its latest version, and I've been using it with few problems for several months. But there is the possibility of a hiccup here or there. According to TechCrunch:

Meebo basically reverse-engineered Facebook’s IM. So if Facebook decides to change its IM protocols, the Meebo integration could break until its engineers apply a band aid.

Since I started using Facebook IM in Adium, I suspect more than a few of my Facebook friends have wondered why I'm ALWAYS listed as an "Online Friend" in the site's IM interface. And while I can't provide definitive proof that I do, in fact, have a life, you can at least rest assured that I'm not actually spending all day every day on Facebook.