Saturday, April 6, 2013

Facebook: How Do I Use It?




A few years ago I set up a Facebook account. I faithfully filled in the ‘About Me’ section, and even took a special (but terrible) photo of myself for a profile picture. I requested my friends and my family to be my Facebook friends.

And then I got stuck.

What did one do with Facebook? Did one just post strange but cryptic things on their walls that might have a small chance of sparking an interesting conversation? Or was it about liking things and reposting pictures? Maybe it was about number. Maybe I needed to have the most friends. Or maybe it was about playing all those games that I saw in my news feed.

In the end I did nothing, and ignored Facebook for months.

And then I went away for a couple of weeks and made a heap of new friends. But the only problem was that none of them lived anywhere near me. How to keep in contact? The answer appeared to be Facebook. And so, I signed into my account, found my friends, and decided to give Facebook another try.

But I still don’t have it. I like reading about what happens with my friends. I like some of the pictures they post or share. But what am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to say? I’m still very much learning how to use Facebook properly. So tell me, what am I supposed to do?

And to all those lovely people who have come and commented and who comment on this post, I will answer your comments and visit your blogs. I just haven't had time this week, thanks to a uni assignment. And, in a random note, this is my 200 blog post. Go me!

17 comments:

  1. I sometimes feel the same thing; what do I do on Facebook?
    So, most of the time I find I just don't update my status. I don't know what to say. Occasionally I put up something random, but that's about it.
    So, instead, when I see a picture I like I just hit share, so everyone else can see it too!

    Awesome, 200 posts, I've done like 20 something :P

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    1. I rarely update my status either. Somehow, I never know the right thing to say. Though sharing photos sounds like a good idea. Pictures always seem to be a safe way to go.

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    1. I think someone should write a handbook one day detailing exactly how people are supposed to use Facebook. Then people like you and I wouldn't get so confused.

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  3. Jane...
    apparently I have a lot to say to you...
    I have no idea what you are supposed to do with facebook. I am still trying to figure it out but I have not figured it out yet. I mostly use it for school because everything important is on facebook and I guess I kinda use it to stay in contact with people but sometimes I forget to check it for weeks because there is not much happening.

    Also congrats to 200 blogposts. That is rather a lot!

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    1. Using Facebook for school stuff is a good use. I know that when I used to play soccer, a lot of the game times were on Facebook, not that I ever found them. I've only really just started keeping an eye on Facebook and that's because I made a lot of new friends who don't live anywhere near me.

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    2. I only make friends in forums and stuff and then I either add them on skype or can talk to them without using facebook..
      but that is okay... School is the only thing I need my old profile for. I might delete it after school and actually only add people I want to have on facebook to that profile... and then it might get useful... maybe...

      I will never post status updates because status updates let anyone see what I am up to....

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    3. Sometimes deleting your facebook account is easier than trying to unfriend everyone and sort out the old account, isn't it? Status updates are a bit of a fine line it seems, trying to post something about yourself without giving away too much private stuff. I suppose if you use your account for school then you definitely wouldn't want everyone knowing what's going on in your life.

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    4. Excactly... I have no problem telling people stuff in forums or on tumblr or even on my blog...
      but on my facebook... not really....
      There are only people from school on there who I know have a diffrent opinion in stuff... so starting new would probably be great...

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  4. Congratulations on your 200th post!

    Ah, Facebook. Sometimes I think it causes more problems than it's worth. I post funny things I've experienced, or things I want to share with others. If it's something I might tell a group of friends to spark a conversation, it might do the same on Facebook. But honestly, I think it's a good thing not to be sucked into Facebook.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse

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    1. I think it definitely is a good thing not to be sucked into Facebook. I haven't yet managed to find the attraction of it, but I know that it's one of those things that a lot of people check all the time, wasting time.

      Those are all great ideas for things to post. I'll have to remember those for when I actually say something on Facebook.

      Thanks! I couldn't believe it when I saw that this was my 200th. It doesn't feel like I've written that many.

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  5. whoa...200. It takes forever to find that many things to say to people, many of whom you don't actually know, which makes it harder... On Facebook, ignore your own page unless you have something you want everyone you know to see. The best part is the private messaging. It's faster than e-mail b/c a lot of people are on facebook more than their e-mail, and sometimes you can catch them in real time.

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    1. It does take a while to write 200 posts. This is my third year of blogging, so I've had a while to do it in. And I've often had trouble coming up with posts. Right now I'm trying to come up with a blog post subject for the letter 'G' for the blogging challenge. Not working so far...

      Private messaging is definitely a great feature and about the only one I've really used. I keep in contact with my sister on the other side of the country that way. And chatting through the messages is great too.

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  6. I so agree with you, being a newbie blogger I have a FB page, woohoo, I hate posting on FB, doesn't do it properly then puts 3 at once. Oh and then I saw facebook friends 1000 for $5 on fiverr (as in buy friends), yeah not a fan.
    Take a look at google+. Dead easy.

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    1. Buying Facebook friends sounds terrible! To think that people care so much about numbers of friends. I don't think I'd ever win any number competition, but at least I can say I know all my friends.

      I've never actually looked at Google+ but it sounds interesting. Maybe I'll go and see how it compares to Facebook. It could be amazing.

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  7. Hey, congrats on 200..that's a lot of blogging! :)

    I think any sort of 'social media' is tough. It's hard to know what you should share, what you shouldn't, etc. The way I look at it is, it's all about -you- , so touch on the things that interest you and what's going on in life. After all, that's why people read it...they want to know what you're up to :)

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    1. Thanks Mark. That's a great tip. I think sometimes I get caught up in wondering if there's some special formula for posting or some secret I haven't been told about using Facebook. It's good to remember that it's a way of sharing bits of my life with friends who are interested. Thanks for visiting me!

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