Facebook has been around since 2004. At the beginning, membership was limited to college students, and there seemed to be an “anything goes” mentality amongst its users. Six years and 500 million users later, what constitutes as acceptable Facebook behavior has changed dramatically. Here is a list of five common mistakes (in no particular order) concerning Facebook Etiquette.
1. Taking unflattering photos of friends and tagging them
Nobody wants to be seen at their worst. Those pictures from the bar last night when things got “a little weird” are by no means flattering to anyone. Sure they’re funny, but your friend’s grandmother may not have the same twisted sense of humor as you and your old college buddies. Always have the courtesy to ask a friend if it’s okay to post pictures of them. Remember, even if they un-tag themselves, that embarrassing picture is still floating around the web for all to see.
2. Complaining about your job and/or co-workers
Nowadays, everyone is on Facebook. Despite your “ironclad” privacy settings, if someone wants to see your Facebook, chances are they’ll find a way. Furthermore, some people actually are friends with their boss and co-workers but seem to forget. Comments such as “I hate my job” or “My boss is so dumb” can only count against you. Do not make this mistake. As silly as it may seem, negative Facebook comments such as these really do cost people their jobs. In the unlikely event that their boss keeps them on the payroll, rest assured that things will be awkward around the office, to say the least.
3. Constantly sending “Quizzes” or “Farmville” notifications
Not to be the bearer of bad news, but the only people who care how well your virtual cabbage is growing are other Farmville addicts. The same goes for your daily horoscopes, or the classic “what type of animal are you” quiz. Proper Facebook etiquette dictates that if an application asks if you would like to share with your friends, click “no.” It may seem like no big deal now, but wait until your friends list consists of only ten virtual farmers…and your mom.
4. The guy with 1,000 friends
It is important to realize that there is no need to be friends with everyone you have ever come in contact with (unless you’re running a business page). Some people, upon receiving a friend request, feel a moral dilemma in whether or not to accept the person. If you do not know them, you should ignore the request. The other kind of person is the one who friend requests anyone and everyone. Chances are tha this person is a “Facebook Stalker,” and you should ignore them as well. Remember: 1,000 real friends make you cool; 1,000 Facebook friends make you creepy.
5. Joining inappropriate Facebook Groups
Despite your best efforts to keep status updates and wall posts clean, all of that can be undermined by a single click of a “like” or “join” button. All of your friends are notified when you “like” something or join any group, so be careful to pick and choose wisely. An example would be a Wal-Mart employee “liking” “TheUnited Food and Commercial Workers Union.” Considering Wal-Mart’s known hatred for labor unions, you can rest assured that that single click of their mouse just cost that person their job.
Everyone is guilty of breaking Facebook etiquette rules once in a while. After all, Facebook was designed as a place to relax and be able to express yourself online. Unfortunately, the game has changed, and now Facebook is simply an extension of the “real world.” So next time you find yourself uploading embarrassing photos of your friends, remember the rules!
Do you think we missed anything? What drives you NUTS about Facebook?
