Is It A Good Idea To Join Facebook?

[mollymalloy]

Good Morning, Am a private person, but my sister in law told me yesterday that she is on Facebook. Is it worthwhile joining it? Does it serve a purpose? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Prudie]

I'm still resisting as I'm also a bit private but I have access to my partner's. It's full of total dross from work colleagues, pictures of their dinner and who scored what on candycrush. I believe if you get your settings right though it's a very good way to keep in touch with family and friends - just most people don't use it like that.

[yogasun]

It depends. I sort of enjoy a love/hate relationship with it.
Useful for spreading the word for groups (drama, yoga, wildlife) that I'm involved in and seeing photos, and wishing people happy birthday who you know but wouldn't necessarily send a card to.
However I haven't changed my status in years, I'm not always wanting everyone to know what I'm doing - some people tell you everything minute by minute (yawn). I use it to suit my own purposes really.
Everyone is different.

[shoota]

It is a handy way of keeping in contact with family and friends but it can be a nuisance wading through the ephemera and rubbish that others post and 'like'.
It is a good thing if you are strict and keep your list of 'friends' down to those you really want to be in touch with and avoid the 'friend' collectors.
Keep the amount of detail you post about yourself down to a minimum and avoid psting too many photos.

[Mosaic]

Agree with Shoota. It's a bit like being able to listen or ignore to idle chatter that's passing by. Great for a quick word with the fambly but not a substitute for real life.

[Zacs-Master]

Shoot as advice is very good. Only 'friend' those you really want to. I find its a great way to keep in touch with what's happening with friends and relations and gives you a good starting point for conversations when you see them.

[jno]

depends what you want to use it for. If it's just to keep in touch with your s-i-l, does it offer anything that emails and phone calls can't do?

[fairycakes69]

I use it, though have a very select friends. I don't really post, mainly use it to see photos of the grandkids. Depends how you want to use it. Don't see the point of lots of friends you don't even know.
Really can't be doing with folk saying what they're having for tea or how they are feeling.
Though had to laugh, one of my kids friends posted a photo of the bath she was about to take and she shows photos of what she's eating.

[Old_Geezer]

It has never attracted me, but my family seem keen on it. I end up not being informed of normal things a family should be expected to make known because one has stuck it on their facebook page which resolves any further responsibility. I guess one either wants the world and its dog to know about one, or one does not.

[worrier]

I go on Facebook just to keep up with what the grandchildren are doing. You are in control and you can choose your friends and family you want on it. It's in your hands. Go for it.

[bibblebub]

I stay well away, and people say that you can set the privacy of what you post so that only a limited number of people can see them but forget that everything that goes on there is available for facebook itself to use as they want. Do you want information about you to be used for political purposes? Facebook indicated earlier this year that they want to get involved in that and, of course, they already sell private info about their users to third parties.

[Zacs-Master]

Yes, I never click any posts to do with religious or political issues.

[TWR]

Facebook is as secure as you want it to be, do not give out any private details,
addresses, I use F/B to contact Family in OZ, so that works for me, the site is free "BUT" It does have it's downsides I usualy spend about 15mins on the site. use your head!!!! you will enjoy it.

[ChillDoubt]

Nope, it'll all end in tears.
If you want to stay in touch with people meet them face to face, phone them or email them.

Before you know it you'll be asked by a third party why you didn't 'like' a particular post/picture/thought and it'll snowball from there.

http://www.nileswestnews.org/west-word/10-reasons-to-hate-facebook/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504784_162-20077908-10391705.html

[hc4361]

I've been using facebook for years. My privacy is set so that I cannot be found on Facebook at all by people I am not 'friends' with - mainly family. No messages from people I don't know. Friends of friends can't see my posts, photos, anything.

No arguing, fall outs - just social chit chat, keeping up with one another and seeing photos of far flung rellies.

[woofgang]

I really like facebook but I am hardline on sharing info and who I friend. I get to talk to a small group of internet friends with whom I have common interests and to chat with my family none of whom live close to me. Its easy enough to hide things you don't want to see and to unfriend people who cross my line and I do it without regret or compunction...but then I am like that in real life too.
One thing that I don't do is join in the mexican wave games that involve posting code messages which relate to personal information. These are too easily decoded to provide information such as middle name and date of birth which is often used as security info. I never give my date of birth in chat groups either....and I like the silly games but again, don't share statuses or pester my friends with them.
I am also careful which photos I add and how my albums are shared.

[woofgang]

oh and PS, periodically i google myself in my many user names to confirm my anonymity. I am not listed on 192.com.

[modeller]

I have used it as a method of forcing a company who had ripped me off to rectify a matter . It worked ! They didn't like the publicity.
I don't see the point of friends of friends of friends etc. Emails do everything I want to share.

[SlackAlice]

I only use it to keep in touch with far flung family. Think I've only allowed two friends on there, ones I know I can trust. Apart from that I see no use for it.

[naomi24]

I won't. Too intrusive.

[hc4361]

How is it intrusive, naomi?