It's common, but there actually is no exemption for friends and family. Those offerings should technically be done under the 506 exemption which require investors to be accredited.
It was also illegal, before the JOBS Act, to engage in "general solicitation," which is what raising money via a publicly-viewable crowdfunding page would amount to.
It was also illegal, before the JOBS Act, to engage in "general solicitation," which is what raising money via a publicly-viewable crowdfunding page would amount to.