Do you constantly shake your head in disappointment while looking through your Facebook Newsfeed wishing these “friends” of yours knew which information to keep to themselves and which to make public? I know I do.
There are certain annoying patterns Facebook users seem to fall into while on the site that becomes irksome to other users. You know what I’m talking about; things like people making out with their significant others in half the pictures they put up on Facebook, people posting an unnecessarily large amount of statuses (several per day), underage drinkers posting pictures of themselves partying way too hard (remember future employers are watching…and possibly some nosy relatives), etc. Because of this, I thought maybe we could all use a reminder of how to maintain a certain etiquette while enjoying our favorite social network.
1. Only Post Statuses That Can Be Considered At Least Somewhat Entertaining
This means no posting itineraries. Not only do your friends not care what you’re doing throughout the day, but Facebook is the stalker social network . Do you really want to inform everyone where you are during the day when people already know clearly way too much about you? I didn’t think so. Also, itinerary posts are boring. No one wants to see, “school. work. home,” when stalking your page. Helpful Hint: if no one is “liking” or commenting on your statuses, there’s a reason.
“I became [Facebook] friends with a girl so that we could contact each other about our classes. Now I know everything she is doing at every minute of the day. Not okay.”
-Catherine Burke
Sophomore Family Studies Major
2. Don’t Harass Friends With Farmville and other Game Application Requests
Farmville. It’s become an epidemic. Many of my friends have Farmville. I’m even ashamed to say my older brother who I’ve always looked up to, asked to borrow my laptop once so he could, “Harvest his crops.” I’m not trying to say there is anything wrong with playing Farmville. Everyone has there own game preferences (I’m more of a Bubble Trouble gal myself). What worries me about the game is when the gamers repeatedly send Farmville gift requests to their non-Farmville-playing friends. Sometimes it becomes borderline harassment. If someone keeps denying your requests, take a hint and move on. Thankfully, in the past year, Farmville has become a less talked about game. This is fortunate, considering some serious and quite troublesome addictions to the new online fad had been sprouting up.
“There’s this one person who used to be in one of my classes and she slowly became friends with me just to become my neighbor on Farmville…I thought it was a little creepy.”
-Monika Padgett
Sophomore Biology/Chemistry Double Major
3. Avoid Petty Fighting Over Facebook
Remember when you were back in middle school and you would have a sleepover with your two BFFs? Everything would be perfectly fine when you all part ways Sunday morning, but when you reunite at school Monday, your two girlfriends seemed hate each other? You would ask yourself: How could they have possibly gotten into a fight? The last time they were with each other I was there and they were totally fine. Then it hits you. They probably got into a fight using a very common form of communication that seems to be at the root of many fights nowadays: Instant Messenger.
With the Internet, sending information is just one click away. The words someone sends through the internet usually cannot be taken back. Unfortunately, I’m sure we’ve all said things to someone on the Internet that we’d never say to their face. Facebook seems to generally amplify the severity of these arguments because (aside from Facebook Messaging and Facebook Chat) all conversation is made public. The flames of hostility are easily fanned when outsiders are able to add their input. We are strong college women! There’s no need to fall prey to such petty Internet altercations.
4. Do Not Break Up With Someone By Changing Your Relationship Status From “In A Relationship” To “Single.”
That is a whole new level of cold. Also, don’t ‘like’ relationship status changes when two people break up. It’s tacky. Everyone has at least one friend that has dated a loser and was happy to see the jerk go, but that happiness does not need to be publicly announced. While you may be totally ecstatic with the break up, your now-single friend most likely isn’t quite so happy-go-lucky about the situation. Besides, we’ve all seen enough Lifetime movies to know that some jealous guys get super angry when people clearly oppose their relationships.
5.‘Like Her Campus Towson on Facebook!
Here is one last rule of Facebook Etiquette that should be followed by all of you ladies of Towson (and any gentlemen) reading this: ‘like’ the Her Campus Towson Page and join the Her Campus Towson Group. As Towson readers, you are what Her Campus is all about and we’d love to hear from you!
Maybe the fact that people do not follow Facebook Etiquette is what keeps the website so interesting. I personally find blow-out fights on my Newsfeed to be quite intriguing at times. However, I think we can all live without the barrage of Farmville gift requests.
Happy Facebook-ing!
Sources: facebook.com; myspace.com; Instant Messenger; drphill.com