Sometimes I think we all need to take some time and remember simple etiquettes that make social networking easier. With facebook becoming almost meteoric in it’s rise to the top of social networking platforms (and being one I use regularly), we should remember that at times we can irritate our ‘friends’ and people on our ‘friends lists’ with things we do on there.
- Do NOT post pornographic materials to your wall. Ok, so I have a friend who was been taking a lot of quizzes lately – he’s gay and usually posts everything he does. But when he does quizzes like ‘Which of these gay porn stars would you f#ck?’ – there are some things I for one would rather not see. Pictures of fully exposed and erect men, or pictures of them spreading their butt cheeks is just a little too much information. The same would go for women too, but I haven’t noticed this in another context than the scenario mentioned. There are things called ‘porn sites’ for all that kind of stuff. I have to wonder, with facebook’s porn filters and moderators – how some of these applications get past them.
- Do NOT facebook drunk. Yeah, this one I learned the hard way and sometimes have to keep reminding myself. As with anyone who saw my ‘25 Things’ list earlier in the year would understand. I guess though in posting that list, it opened some discussion and realisation as to me blaming myself for the actions of others – and then opened a subsequent door to some counselling. Freed me from my burdens which were really someone else’s burdens to start with.
In another scenario, I regularly watched someone on my ‘friends list’ (who was more of an acquaintance I had met out on the town one night) regularly have alcohol fuelled explosions in his status updates’ which he would then remove the next day when he felt a little ashamed at the things he had said. - Do NOT spam friends. This should really carry over from basic internet and email etiquette really. I know I still have some people who send me a dozen emails a day – anything they think is ‘cute’ or ‘funny’ onwards to chain letters they don’t wanna break. Honestly, in a social networking situation, if you think something is cute, funny or interesting enough to send – why not just post it to your wall and let everyone see?
- Do NOT add people you don’t know. Some people like to ’steal’ friends or claim association through a mutual friend, much to the mutual friends irritation. When adding friends, there is a field for ‘comment’ – so you can let people know who you are (if they don’t remember) and/or why you’d like to be their friend on facebook. Use it!
Often too, messages will circulate within applications (particularly the ones that send videos and pictures to friends) saying not to add a person (giving their name) and saying they are a hacker. It’s safer just not to add people you don’t know in the first place. - DO edit your application settings. Nearly every application you add on facebook will want to post to your wall time and again. Under “Applications” – there is an option to “Edit Applications” and there you can stop this from happening. Do you really want people to know how much time you spend on a game or each time you make a move in it?
- DO set up different friends lists. Most people don’t realise this, but when you click ‘friends’ in the top of your browser it allows you the opportunity to create lists. We all have differing levels of what we want people to know – for privacy’s sake. Like would you want a mere acquaintance knowing all your contact details? Would you want your family seeing embarrassing photos that friends ‘tag’ you in? Would you want your workmates knowing every little thing about you?
Once a list is created you can customise your privacy settings on everything – from your wall, to photos tagged of you, to albums, to notes – absolutely everything. You can choose which lists see which information about you. - DO take advantage of the Inbox system for messaging on facebook. It’s a case of using your common sense for distinguishing what kind of messages to keep private and what to post to a wall (hence making them public). Grievances between friends should not be aired on walls, by the same token – overt displays of affection, while sweet – maybe taking things too far. Like we don’t all want to hear ten times a day how much you ‘love’ your sweetheart.
No comments:
Post a Comment