The following
is a practical guide for Facebook Netiquette. You can use
these ideas to customize your own Netiquette on the site. As you read the list,
check off what you agree with, note where and how you want to differ from the
suggested behavior, and then write or type out your own guidelines for Facebook
Netiquette. Put the list somewhere that is easily accessible and/or visible to you
for easy reference as you use Facebook.
1.
Avoid negativity. Especially be careful of
expressing personal feelings on other people’s posts that you don’t agree with.
2.
Do not swear. Even in abbreviated form like
LMFAO, this is not appropriate. (If you do use such a term, don’t do so
excessively.)
3.
Learn to say no to
invitations.
This includes invitations from friends, applications, groups, and certain
events that you don’t want to make public.
4.
Set up privacy on certain
posts. Limit
access to friends only.
5.
Only accept friend requests
from people you’ve met in person. Purge your list a few times a year as friendships fade.
6.
Do not list personal contact
information.
This includes address, phone number, and personal email.
7.
Do not update your status
more than a few times a day. Think through your changes before you make them.
8.
Defend your wall by deleting
inappropriate comments.
If you don’t want to delete a comment, counter it with an appropriate reply.
9.
Keep the photos you’re tagged
in under two hundred.
Un-tag the less flattering and inappropriate ones.
10.
Minimize tagging to let
people tag themselves in photos. Some people do not wish to be tagged. Don’t tag anyone in
unflattering ways.
11.
Use the Notes section to
share something genuine.
Avoid personal attacks, self-surveys, and diatribes.
12.
Be selective with your
comments.
Keep in mind that they will at least be shared with friends of friends. When
you comment, use proper Netiquette.
13.
Control privacy settings each
time you post something.
Share your posts only with Friends.
14.
Minimize notifications sent.
15.
Minimize applications. This should be done especially
with inappropriate ones, games that waste time, or ones with few users.
16.
Check details of groups and
fan pages before you join.
Look out especially for authenticity (i.e., authorized pages). Take some time
to drill down and view activity.
17.
Go through your profile and
make adjustments to make your profile to suit your Netiquette rules. This can be done bit by bit.
18.
Occasionally, ask people for
an honest impression they get from your profile.
19.
Delete “inappropriate” things
you’ve done on Facebook.
If you’ve ever posted anything that later doesn’t seem like such a good idea,
go back and delete it to minimize visibility and damage.
20.
Purge things a few times a
year. These
include bad or outdated photos, friends, groups, fan pages, notes, and comments.
21.
Don’t get caught up in other
people’s inappropriate behavior. Stick to your own Netiquette, and update your policies as
needed.
22.
Treat your Facebook profile
and activity like an informal résumé or media image of yourself—because it is!
Minh Tan,
“A Practical Facebook Netiquette Guide,” Envirostats! http://envirostats.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/a-practical-facebook-netiquette-guide-pdf-23-kb.pdf.
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