Ask Me Help Desk - The purpose of Facebook

The purpose of Facebook

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 you know that person by confirming them are you accepting them as a friend or does that literally mean you know them?

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.

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!

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.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

Here's the funny thing: people expose themselves here in much more detail for all the world to see.

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.

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.

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellymo1983

What is the purpose of Facebook?

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellymo1983

When someone adds you/requests you as a friend what does that mean?

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellymo1983

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?

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.

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 kind of says something.) Places like that turn me off.

Thanks, because the reason I asked was because apparently my ex facebooked me, added me as his friend and that was why I was asking what the purpose was.

Hi again, mellymo1983!

So, why would your ex add you as a friend if he's your ex, please? I may be incorrect about this, but don't "official" friends on the site have to be invited to become friends and then join the site?

Thanks!

Good question, I had even gotten a message under Windows Live I believe it is? I had gotten an invitation that said he wanted to connect with me which was dated 9/18. I didn't update my messenger until like a week later when I saw this.

So, that could have perhaps been an old message - before he became your ex?

Thanks!

Not exactly we had been broken up for a few months before I got these messages.

So, is there concern on your part that he might be posting things about you on his Facebook account, please?

Thanks!

I don't really know what could be going on with him.

If you might not have a Facebook account, is there a friend who does whom you could ask to look at your ex's account and see what's going on there?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellymo1983

Good question, I had even gotten a message under Windows Live I believe it is? I had gotten an invitation that said he wanted to connect with me which was dated 9/18. I didn't update my messenger until like a week later when I saw this.

If you used your hotmail account to join Facebook, the notification of messages are sent to your inbox, which maybe what you saw on WindowsLive.

Or if your ex used his email address list to send request for his friends to join Facebook, you will get a notification in your inbox.

About Facebook, if your ex added you as a friend and you do not want to add him to your list,do not add him.
There is an "ignore" under the friend request.
You do not have to "accept" all friend requests that come your way.

Or if you want to add him,but do not wish for him to be able to see too many details on your profile, there is the option of putting him under "Limited Profile", which you can put in all the people who you want to keep in touch,but not necessarily let them see all that you post on your profile.
For example, I have old classmates on my Friends list but they are listed under "Limited Profile" friends because they are not close enough for them to know every detail on my profile.

.

Yes be very careful of the friends you add and use the privacy settings well. Be careful of the friends Of Frients and evernody selection. My Facebook account was hacked . The person/joker send adult content vedio to everyone to see it but you/I don't know it just the friends list get them. I found out by the FB email People sent + aske what s going on. My nephew gave me a heads up + knew I don't send that kind of stuff. Also be very careful of the vedios people send + you open up they can have spreadable viruses + prishing whatever that is. That is my experance with recent FB. Even though someone does this to you , they kick you off the site. I joined Facebook to connect my nieces + nephews to each who hadn't seen each in years from various stated. So I don't understand the hacking thing/ joke on me! Like to know why a kid? Do it , how they do it, how you block them , they cause a lot of problems.

The purpose of Facebook is to keep in contact with old friends and/or family. I think it would be best to only share info with people that you know. Like me I only have fam and friends on there.

I was against networking sites for a long time. Out of boredom one day I created a Facebook page and went with it. After making sure what I wanted to stay private is private I am enjoying it. I post innocent pictures of things. I don't go in and say every detail of my day. I have found friends from 18 years ago that I lost touch with and its been wonderful. I also have ignored several friend requests. My friends I have there are my true friends. As long as your wise and keep your wits about you I think for the most part it's a great place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88sunflower

I have found friends from 18 years ago that I lost touch with and its been wonderful.

I agree sunny,
One of the best things about Facebook is that we find long lost friends from decades ago and even if we don't keep in touch everyday, it is good to say hello once in a while.

.

This is going to seem like a stupid question but when someone accepts your friend request I guess that means they would like to be friends with you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellymo1983

This is gonna seem like a stupid question but when someone accepts your friend request I guess that means they would like to be friends with you?

Kind of, technically on Facebook it means you both can now see each others FB pages (depending on the level of access they have granted you).