What is the purpose of Facebook? I just started using facebook. When someone adds you/requests you as a friend what does that mean? When you get a message that says this person adds you as a friend and they need to know whether or not you know that person by confirming them are you accepting them as a friend or does that literally mean you know them?

Wondergirl

It's a social networking site. I have as "friends" people I know in real life as well as those I know well from the internet (various sites I am on for Q&A, grammar, writing).

Be careful.

Clough

Hi, mellymo1983!

Yes, it's one of the main social networking sites. You don't necessarilly know who your "friends" are on it, even after you've accepted their invitation.

I don't use it, because it's so "exposed" and I'm not interested in telling my life to the world out "there" on the Internet.

My closest friends and those who I know are real that I've met online, are the only ones with whom I'm willing to share things that are personal.

I will echo Wondergirl's admonishment to you:

"Be careful".

Thanks!

morgaine300

I will add the "be careful" as well. I don't trust Facebook at all. And I have to agree with what Clough said that I have no reason to expose myself out there to everyone and his brother. I choose who my friends are and what I will share with them, whether they be in person or online.

Someone requesting to be your "friend" is entirely meaningless from the standpoint of what "friend" means. Unless of course the person actually is your friend. If the person really is your friend, or you think they may be, contact that friend and see if they sent the invitation. If you do not know them, I personally would not accept them, as you really have no idea who they are.

Basically my opinion is that if you had to ask, you need to be careful of what you're doing.

NeedKarma

Here's the funny thing: people expose themselves here in much more detail for all the world to see. Facebook is what you made of it. I only add real life friends. I ignore the others. Post little personal info (no phone numbers etc. Have fun with status updates, and pictures. Remember that there is always a way for an employer to see your profile if they really wanted.

morgaine300

Hmm, really? First, I post here only what I feel like posting here, meaning I'm sticking to exactly what I said. There's plenty of stuff about me I don't discuss here, you won't find any pictures, not even of my cats. Maybe the "detail" I post here is the stuff I don't care about. This is also the only place where I use this ID, which is intentional. Plus the intended purpose of the site is not really to socially network.

The problem with places like Facebook is that it's hard telling what people will do there, including what they will put there about other people without permission. Not to mention it getting hacked.

NeedKarma

I didn't mean you specifically morgaine. BTW you don't have to use your real name on FB either. You set up a bogus name and tell your friends that name then they can accept your invite.

shazamataz

Of coarse you do have to be careful but not many people are silly enough to go posting their address and phone number on the internet...

I am on Facebook and I have both real life and internet friends on there.. I don't post things that are too personal but I am not completely anal about it either...I do have photos of myself and my pets on there... I also have fun with the status updates and I love the games.

It's a great way to keep in contact with old friends... some of my contacts on there I haven't talked to for years, it has been great.

superk

Getting to know a person or keeping in touch with a person you already know

That means that person is interested to know you. It's up to you if you want to accept him but you can also delete him in future for some reason.

No. There's no such rule but if you're ultra private, you can just add or accept those people you like and know personally. Reject others.


Advantage:
1. Getting in touch with your old friends.
2. Keeping in touch with your friends.
3. Fun. Games, update and applications are great.
4. Getting to know more your friend.
5. Being up to date with what's going on.
6. To build resources/ network that you may use in future. Say job, hobbies etc.


I got a friend who posts thoughts pictures and videos on face book (myspace and friendster too) from what's going on her head to what they ate from breakfast to dinner. But that's her.

I don't mind posting address or my phone number since only my friends sees it. My friends are my relatives living in other country, office mates and former classmates. My profile is private and cannot be viewed if you're not my "friend". If someone wants to know more, I got nothing to hide.

Just avoid being fished. You know when someone tries hack your password by updating your current account (say it got yahoo logo but it's not really from them) and when you click the link it will take you to a totally different site. Once your password was obtained, there will be someone starts pestering your friends pretending to be you like the one I saw in Dr. Phil. This guys password was hacked and someone wrote one of his friends through face book saying they were stranded in London and they need money. This nice friend sent money in London but its too late to know it's just bogus. On a lighter note, the account owner tested what kind of friend he got.

You don't need to sign up with face book if you feel threatened, finds it corny and don't have a need for it but it's great.

morgaine300

So, exactly how do you get in touch with these old friends without using a real name and enough information that they would know who you are? And if you have that much info up, to be available for people to find, then anyone else can find it too.

I've heard too many bad things about that place.

If I hadn't already heard about the place, it would be difficult to even figure out what it is about. They should have a place right there, big and obvious, on their home page that says exactly what the place is. Instead they have a big place where you can sign up and don't tell you what you're signing up for -- and make you hunt all over the place for it. (The fact that someone had to come here and ask what the purpose is kinda says something.) Places like that turn me off.