This feature allows each player to have 12 friends, which you can see if they are on-line and have quick access to message a friend. In addition to these things, there is also a few bonuses - a one-time goldFile:Gold small.gif bonus for each new colony established (demolishing a town and then re-founding it does not yield the gold bonus) and a 1% research point bonus based on friend completed research subject, for each friend. IMPORTANT-NOTE: FACEBOOK FRIENDS WILL NOT GIVE YOU A BLUE CAP FRIEND. The message that appears on the "Mayor" screen when you get the news is as follows: