facebook.com

MY THOUGHTS ON THE SITE

It took me quite a while to get around to using Facebook. Even though I had heard a lot about it. I was always busy hopping from one social networking site to the other. The first sites I joined were the likes of Bebo, Faceparty, Tagged, Perfspot etc. Tagged recently gave me a virus. So, I have decided to stop using it. Facebook is the one I am currently most addicted to. Saying that since I discovered Ciao and Dooyoo I use it less than I ever use to. But, I still use it quite a lot and I find it is one of the best ways to waste time. In a way Facebook is like Bebo, Twitter and MySpace all rolled into one. I say that because it gives users the ability to update their status. In a way similar to how Twitter allows you to tweet things. It allows its users to do many other different things as well. Among those things are adding photos, joining groups and inviting friends just like Bebo and MySpace.

Although these comparisons can be made to Bebo and Myspace. I think Facebook is the most fun to use. The reason for that is because there's just so many different things that you can do on it. Whether you take interest in joining some of the bizarrely named groups or you like the different applications, (I will speak more about them later.) Or, even if you just like speaking to those who you do and dont know. There is always something to do on it! I only just noticed the layout has changed and I quite like it. The thing I have found with my Facebook is that I hardly know any of the people on it. Well, except for a couple but the rest are people I do not know at all.

I dont use the status to the extent that some people do. Sometimes I use it but I do not tell my every move to everyone. I do not think it is a good idea to do that online and my life is not that interesting anyway lol! That is why I hardly ever use Twitter now. Something about everyone online being able to see every thought that I have and every place I am going, when I am going. Makes me worry lol! Not everyone is a nutter online but there is quite a few of them and we all have to be careful. Even on Facebook! I think that the site is a very addictive one and I cant believe I am typing that now. Because, back when I first joined it. I never really bothered that much with it. I never thought I would become addicted to it and want to go on it every single day. But, it has became a part of my everyday life now. Something I dislike about it is something that I guess is present on all sites. That is the men who message you only with intentions of trying to have perverted conversations.

That really makes my blood boil! There is some complete jerks on it. But, then there is on every website and in life in general. And, it is not a fault of the site. I wish people like that were not on it though. I say that because I have Facebook on right now. I just spoke to someone exactly like how I mentioned there and I am about to block him. The downfall with most of these sites is that it is so easy for someone to fake who they are. I like to add anyone who asks because it is a social network. But, that means I could have re-added someone I dislike under a different name. I think that the best way to get the most out of a social network is to speak to lots of new people. I just wish it was not so easy for people to make another profile. It sort of takes away from the point of having the option to block in the first place.

LAYOUT

The layout of the site is really good and it is also very easy to navigate. I just noticed the other day that it has all changed around. It takes me forever to notice these things. I dont overly mind the new look. It is quite nice but it still takes a tiny bit of getting used to. The colouring on the Facebook profile is rather dull. You can not decorate it with nice skins or anything. I have saw a few things claiming that you can change your Facebook profiles colour. But, in order to do that. You are asked to either get a certain amount of people to join or to download stuff. I avoided both of those through fear of getting a virus. Explaining the current homepage layout is going to be a rather non-guarantee in a sense. Because, I do not know if they will change it again. They could continue to chop and change the layout every few weeks, months or even years. I would probably not recognise if they did though lol! In fact the first time I became aware that it had changed. I seen a rather annoyed status from someone saying that Facebook should stop changing the layout lol!

APPLICATIONS

The applications have been one of my favourite parts of Facebook. They are so addictive and fun to use. I actually surprised myself because I got to like Pet Society and at first I just thought it would be another crap application. You know the type that you go on, when you are bored. But, you think you will never use it again. That is what I thought about it. But, now I have became strangely addicted with decorating my pet named Moonbeams house. In fact, I even got some Playfish coins (still cant believe I did that lol!) to buy furniture for it. Farmville never really caught on for me. Lots of people seem to like it though. Social me can be a good application to use and there is many other applications to choose from as well. When you are on a application and you progress up the levels (or just get further.) You can send a notification to the people on your friends list and let them know or even invite them to help in some of them.

ADDING AND ACCEPTING FRIENDS

I like Facebook for this in particular. When I used Tagged it took forever for it to approve friend requests. Even though I had already clicked accept. It just kept saying "loading." On Facebook it goes through very fast and is not time consuming. Approving friend requests is always something I forget to do though. It takes me a while or a few nudges to get around to it. They also give you friends suggestions. I do not use this section and I am not sure on what basis it is that they are suggested to you. But, I am sure there are people who will like it. There is a useful option to create friends lists as well. You can use this to divide your friends into certain sections. It basically organises them and makes it easier to find the ones you are looking for. The search bar at the top of the page has moved since the new layout. It use to be placed on the right side of the page. Well, you can use it to find people you want to add. As well as using it to find applications and groups.

SECURITY SECTION

In this part you have the chance to choose how private your Facebook profile is. You can control who can see your profile and who can post to your wall. You can also choose who can contact you. Who can see your contact information and who can see your email address. I just realised people could see my email recently and was rather irritated. Because, people were adding me who I did not want to and I could not figure out why. But, now I know and fixed it lol! You can also choose how much of your information is available to Facebook applications. You can choose who can see your search result for Facebook in search engines and on Facebook as well. And, then there is my favourite one. The block option! All you have to do is go to your account, then privacy settings and then block list. Then type in the name of the person that you need to block and click block. Sometimes multiple results come up for the same name. In that case just find the particular person in the list. Saying that, blocking people does not always prevent them from contacting you (using fake profiles.)

PHOTOS

Like most social networks Facebook gives you the opportunity to upload photos. Once uploaded you can edit, tag or delete a photo. You can also add a caption or make it your profile photo.

YOUR WALL

This is one of the main parts of your Facebook profile. You can send funny things to peoples walls and they can post things to yours. Photos and videos you add also show up on it. Other things that show on it include smiley's and things like hitting someone with a virtual pillow. Plus many other things as well. There is also a option to remove anything you dont want on it. You can filter your wall to show your own activity, you and your friends activity or alternatively just theirs. Every-time I win Swag Bucks it shows up on my Facebook wall. Which leads me to another thing I almost forgot to mention. You can connect your Facebook with certain websites and get updates from them. That is how I got the Swag Bucks updates.

FUNNY GROUPS

There is plenty of funnily named groups on Facebook. Anyone who has it will probably already have joined quite a few. I have joined ones named things like Dont You Just Hate When There's An Evil Monkey In Your Closet!!! And, Don't you hate it when you die from not passing on chainmail? and F*** This...I'm Going To Hogwarts. I actually go out of my way to find as many as I can now because they are so funny lol! You can join groups your friends have as well. I find a lot of people on my friends list add funny groups. And, then I do not have to look for them because I just add the ones they did lol!

SIGNING UP

Joining Facebook could not be easier. It is much the same as any other social network sites registration. Just add your name, email address, password, date of birth etc.You will be able to do this on their homepage. Where it says "Its free and anyone can join."

FACEBOOK PAGES

These can be created for bands, artists, public figures, brands, products or organizations. I have never made one because I never needed to lol! But, the option is there and it does not look too complicated either.

OTHER REQUESTS

This section is right below the friends requests. Here you will see all of your group and application invites.

EVENT INVITES

This is in the same part where your friends requests and other requests are. It basically consists of invites to certain events. You can choose to click yes, no or maybe in regards to whether you will be attending the event or not. And, you can also add a RSVP note.

HELP CENTER

This is divided into three sections. One named Using Facebook where you will find details on signing up, your Profile, Accessibility, Chat, Wall, Home and News Feed etc. The next section is named Facebook Applications and Features. There you will find parts that help with Facebook Pages, Credits, Application Support etc. In the last section named Ads and Business Solutions. In this part you will find details about Facebook ads, Facebook Connect and Business Accounts etc. Each section is very detailed and has answers to any questions that you may need answered.

OTHER PARTS OF FACEBOOK

There is a careers section, Site Terms Section, Mobile section, Advertising and About Facebook section. You can also tag your friends photos with funny characters from sites like tagmypals.com. You can choose the notifications you get as well and you can see them at the top of the screen. That is providing it has not changed again by the time I post this lol!

THINGS I LIKE

• The security settings.
• The site is very easy to use.
• Their chat option is better than MSN in my opinion.
• The variety and the ability to do everything you would normally do in one place.

THINGS I WISH WERE DIFFERENT

• Sometimes the applications can go down for days (particularly social me.)
• I wish there was some nice skins to choose from.
• I wish people would not be able to add fake profiles.

OVERALL

This is a fantastic website and it has plenty of things to do on it. It can even keep someone as easily bored as I am occupied. My only real complaint is (as previously mentioned) that you can not put nice skins on your profile. Well, at least not without downloading stuff as far as I know. And, I dont want to do that because I might get a virus and break another net book. I definitely recommend the site to everyone. That is if there actually is anyone who has not yet got a Facebook lol! I have made some friends on it and even some who I now speak to every single day. The positives for this site by far outweigh any negatives!