SPECIAL REPORT: Facebook Etiquette

UNDATED—If you’re connected to the internet, chances are you’ve heard of Facebook. For the uninitiated, it’s a social networking site where you can share information with anybody who you “add” as a friend. In five years, it’s grown from a small college network, to 200 million users. It can be addictive, but there is an etiquette to follow.

In fact, there’s a funny viral video shot like one of those “fifties” educational films called “Facebook Manners.“

We went looking for some proper etiquette advice…and it seems like everyone has some suggestions. We’ve put together some of the best.

For starters, make sure your profile picture is tasteful.

While Facebook isn’t considered a “business” networking site, your next employer might just go looking for you here. The same goes for your biography. And it’s here that we’re reminded of Facebook’s privacy settings.

By default, everyone can search and read about you, so make sure you adjust them so that you only share information, like your age, with the people you don’t mind knowing it.

On Facebook, people use “walls” to share messages, but your friends have friends that you might not know. Be considerate of that when you make a message public.

That leads to tone…watch it.

Like an email, it’s hard to convey “tone” with just words. You may be joking about the way a friend looks in their picture, but they may take it as an insult.

And like the funny video we told you about, leave information about relationships off.

Facebook is a great way to share cool links and video, but again, you only want to post something that you know fits with what your network of friends would like to see.

Lastly, when sending a message…think before you send it to your whole network. Don’t clutter inboxes. If you have an important message, consider using your status “update” to convey it.

“PC World” magazine was our source here.

We want to read your etiquette tips. Leave a comment below to let us know your ideas.

To view the “Facebook Manners” video, click here.

Some other suggestions from our friends on Facebook:

*Don’t “invite” everyone using applications.  Applications include everything from quizzes to games. If someone ignores your request, you might want to think twice about inviting them again.
*Don’t “friend request” everyone.  There are those who are in it for the “numbers.“ In other words, they just want to be able to say they have several hundred friends. Don’t assume your friends’ friends want share their network with you.

*Watch what kind of “group” you create. You may want to create a local fan page about your favorite TV show or book.  But don’t create a page that is hurtful to someone else. In other words, a bad breakup with your significant other shouldn’t lead to a “I Hate _______ Because” page.

We had a lot of help with these suggestions, including this wonderful

Why don’t you share some of yours. You can share several ways:

1) Join Facebook, “friend” Wjbf Augusta and leave them there. (It’s okay to share them on our wall) - WJBF-Augusta Facebook page.
2) Register at WJBF.com and leave your suggestions below
3) Email them to us at
4) Follow us on Twitter at WJBF - send them to us that way - Twitter.com.