Facebook is one of life's most useful weapons

Facebook has been criticised by Newbie76 but I beg to differ: Too many of us are using facebook in the same wrong, self destructive way. Here’s a guide on how to get the most out of it instead:


When used effectively facebook can:

Help you realise what you really want in life: Next time you come across an album or status update that makes you green with envy – maybe one of your ‘friends’ has moved somewhere exotic or has humbly put up an album entitled ‘My wonderful family’ – don’t dismiss how you feel. Take it as a sign that this person has something you want and focus on finding it for yourself.

Make you more aware of the age you really are: It’s hard to pretend you’re still 21 when you receive regular updates from people you went to school with; photos of them at their kids graduation and status updates about them running off with the nanny or how devastated they are after watching the final episode of Last of the Summer Wine.

Sober you up: Facebook has encouraged us all to consider not just our own personal feelings but what the whole world and their dogs might make of our photographs. It’s no longer a case of ‘I love that photo – how messy were we?’ But; ‘ah, oh, what will my work colleagues and Aunt Margo make of me with that bra on my head?’ Getting off your face is not quite so funny or as liberating as it once was.

Improve your posture/get you to the gym: I wonder to what extent photo tagging has impacted on gym membership around the world? After all not everyone uses a kind, low resolution, non flash setting nor appreciates your angles as much as you do.

Enable you to find out reams of information about lots of people from your past: This worked particularly well when facebook changed the security settings recently and albums by default became viewable by the world. To elicit information using facebook is addictive yet strangely satisfying, gives great closure and is infinitely more enjoyable, not to mention cheaper, than therapy.

Help you avoid tricky situations: Thanks to facebook you can now vet invitation lists before you decide whether to accept an invitation or not. You can then even congratulate yourself on making the right decision as you flick through the event photo album.

Posted 07:19 PM on Tue Nov 23 2010

By Barbie

927 views, 1 Comments