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Young people aren't the only ones writing on walls, updating
their statuses and checking in wherever they go. The baby
boomer generation has infiltrated Facebook, and their
members are growing by the minute. These moms, dads,
grandmas and grandpas use the social networking site
 for
many of the same reasons young people use it — they enjoy
catching up with old friends, looking at photos and learning
more about the people they meet. While we're glad baby
boomers have decided to keep up with the times and
participate in social networking, there are some basic
ground rules that should be covered before they end up
friendless. Here are 15 Facebook etiquette tips every baby
boomer should know:
1. Don't embarrass your kids
It
doesn't matter how old your kids are, they don't want to be
embarrassed on Facebook by their mom or dad. Posting photos
of Johnny from his little league years or Susie in braces is
a definite no-no and surefire way to get defriended by your
children. Instead of showing your kids how much you love
them by writing mushy stuff on their walls, play it cool and
send a private message, or better yet, give them a call.
2. Think before you post
It's easy to get carried away with commenting on walls,
updating your status and posting gobs of pictures, but it's
crucial that you watch what you post on Facebook. Depending
on your privacy settings, virtually anyone can see what
you've broadcasted to the world. Regardless of your age,
offensive comments can get you in trouble with Facebook and
possibly your job. So before you fire back at someone who
doesn't share your views and say something you might regret,
just hold back.
3. Don't befriend the whole world
Whether you use Facebook for business or pleasure, it's
generally a good idea to use caution in adding just anyone
on Facebook. Accepting any and all friend requests can put
you at risk for unwanted invitations, comments, event
notifications, chats and virtual harassment. It's perfectly
acceptable to ignore a friend request from a complete
stranger.
4. Stay under the radar
It's a good idea to stay under the radar on Facebook for
professional purposes and as a safety precaution. It's fine
to post things on your profile or other's walls, but you
should be cautious about what kind of information and how
much of it you are sharing with others. Never share personal
information on your profile, such as your home address,
telephone number, birth date and place, vacation plans or
other personal details. Keeping a low profile will help you
blend in better on Facebook and reduce the chances of
identity theft or account impersonations.
5. Don't chat someone's ears off
Facebook chat is a fairly new feature that allows users to
instant message their friends when they're online. Baby
boomers who have never used AIM or another instant messaging
program may go bonkers on Facebook chat. Just like you can
go overboard with comments and status updates, the same can
be said for Facebook chatting. Don't assume that every
person who's signed on to Facebook wants to chat. If you do
chat with friends, try not to talk their ears off and keep
it quick.
6. Act your age
This is a rule all Facebook users should abide by. Baby
boomers sometimes have a hard time acting their age on
Facebook because youngsters make up the majority of Facebook
users. Even if using Facebook makes you feel young and hip,
doesn't mean you are. Reverting back to your college days
and starting unnecessary drama, or posting inappropriate
pictures to relive your glory days is a no-no. On the same
note, just because you're over the hill doesn't mean you
have to act like a senior citizen, either. Posting Medicare
articles, signing each post as "Love, Mom", and telling old
fart jokes are just as bad as acting like a teenager. Play
it cool by acting your age.
7. Don't give TMI
Despite what you may have heard before, sharing isn't always
caring when it comes to Facebook. Informing the world that
you're having marital problems or a bad bout of hemorrhoids
is NEVER a good idea. Not only is this way too much
information, but it's also too personal for Facebook. If
you've got a personal problem, don't announce it on Facebook
– talk to a friend!
8. When in doubt, send a message
As tempting as it is to write on your kids' walls to say how
much you love them or share an embarrassing story with a
friend on their wall, it's generally a good idea to send a
private message instead of writing on walls. Conversations
within Facebook messages are private, so you can share top
secret news and contact information without the world seeing
it too.
9. Say no to The Poke
The Poke button was an early Facebook feature that allows
users to poke their crushes and engage in innocent virtual
flirting. The Poke button has lost its luster over the past
few years and has taken on a new level of creepiness. As
newcomers, baby boomers should know that poking a stranger
is a major no-no. You should also refrain from poking your
kids' friends, bosses or anyone else that might get the
wrong idea about your poke. If you have to think about how
they'll react, then don't hit that button.
10. Tag with caution
Photos are what make Facebook so fun. It's great to see baby
boomers taking advantage of this feature, but there are some
definite dos and don'ts when creating photo albums. Before
you start uploading photos and tagging all of your friends,
you should consider the fact that they may not want to be
tagged in your photos, especially if it's an inappropriate
or unflattering picture. If there's any doubt as to whether
or not they'd want to be tagged, then leave it untagged and
let them tag themselves.
11. Untag as needed
It's not bad etiquette to untag yourself in photos you don't
like. Whether it's an old, embarrassing photo or just plain
unflattering, you don't have to keep it on your profile for
the world to see. But, remember that just because you've
untagged yourself doesn't mean it has been deleted. If you
want it off Facebook, you'll need to politely ask your
friend to delete it from his or her album.
12. Avoid mundane status updates
There are few things more annoying on Facebook than
compulsive and mundane status updates. Most people don't
care that you just ate cereal, brushed your teeth and are
heading to work. Broadcasting daily routines and mundane
stories is not necessary and no one wants to hear every
detail of your life. Leave your status updates for funny,
interesting or thoughtful pieces of information.
13. Don't fish for attention
Facebook is filled with attention seekers, but you don't
have to be one of them. These people find every opportunity
to draw attention and get a reaction out of their friends,
whether it's positive or not. To avoid getting this
reputation on Facebook, avoid posting "look at me" pictures,
or posts that come off as fishing for compliments or
responses. It's ok to share good and bad news to inform
others, but don't post this information if you're just
looking for attention.
14. Don't spam your friends
Facebook has gobs of games, events, groups, quizzes and
applications that you might find interesting or fun, but
that does not mean others will feel the same. Baby boomers
have a track record of sending pointless chain emails and
spam messages to friends and family, and take their bad
habit to Facebook. Most people don't have the time or
interest in playing Mafia Wars or taking the 'Which Sex and
the City Character Are You?' quiz. Just don't clog your
friends' inboxes with spam invites that they may or may not
read.
15. Don't stalk people's profiles
It's great that you want to stay up to date with your kids,
friends or coworkers on Facebook, but every baby boomer
should know the line between everyday use and creeping.
Facebook stalking is not OK, nor should you admit to doing
it if asked. You might find yourself perusing the same
interesting person's profile every day or two, but, under no
circumstances should you go as far as to obsessively write
on their wall, memorize their album names or befriend all of
their friends even if they're complete strangers. Simple
rule: Don't creep out people on Facebook and they'll keep
you as a friend.
About the Author
Article was prepared and is owned by
BestOnlineColleges.com.
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