At a recent family gathering it was made clear to me that many of my cousins and even some of our parents and aunts and uncles use Facebook. I had a Facebook account a while ago and I dropped it because I heard that one can easily pick up computer viruses using Facebook, which is targeted because it is so huge. Also, I’m the contrary sort that doesn’t like to join something if everybody else is doing it. Also also, I’m not sure I want to have that kind of contact with family members – an anonymous message board, sure, but not people I actually know and am related to. I was strongly encouraged several times to join up, but… I dunno. Can’t we just send each other e-mails to keep in touch?
Imagine a family picture book, now imagine it as being electronic and you can see other people images and notes. The nice thing is that the tedious show and tell part of family pictures books has no longer a tedious narrator.
Personally, one big reason I got into Facebook was that my creative group got tired of having their site hacked, so switching to Facebook was a very good idea to prevent that and to keep track of events and meeting information, and then relatives overseas also used it a lot and it is a very convenient way to remain in contact.
My advise is to set your privacy levels high and allow your updates to be seen only by relatives or very good friends. And never join any groups that tell you that a plugin needs to be used to continue.
Great for keeping up with family members. Getting invitations for shows friends (acquaintances – the kind you don’t really talk to on the phone) are playing. If you lose someone’s phone number or e-mail.
I haven’t checked mine since they mandated universal adoption of the new Timeline view, though. It’s really ugly and the exact opposite of how I want any information about me or for me displayed.
If you can avoid ever posting anything about religion or politics, and avoid reading or responding to anything about religion or politics you’ll be fine.
I wish eveybody else would do the same.
Wasn’t it Betty White who said Facebook is a total and complete waste of time? I think she is right, but other than that, it can be a useful way to keep track of people in your life since e-mails and phone numbers change, but a Facebook account is forever (or nearly so).
I have an account but rarely go there, maybe once or twice a month. I find the nonstop crap people putting there very boring. I do not really care what you are having for lunch, or about your intestinal issue, or how well-adjusted and happy your kids are. You can have an account and rarely use it and you should be fine. And, what GIGObuster said about security and privacy settings.
In my experience, if you aren’t on Facebook, you miss out on a lot of information. Most people don’t bother with email much anymore, assuming everyone will see what they post on Facebook. Now, that may not bother you, but if it does, yeah, you should join.
