Facebook Etiquette – How to Keep the Friends You Have

I recently asked my Facebook friends what they wish people would STOP doing on Facebook.  Based on their feedback, here are the top 8 things to avoid doing on Facebook (if you want your friends to keep following you that is):

1. Complaining – A complaint here or there is understandable, but don’t bombard your Facebook friends with how horrible everything in your life is.  Lighten up a little and share some good news once in a while.  People react more positively when the news is good.  Plus, a positive attitude is infectious – in person and online – so spread some cheer!
2. TMI – (Too Much Information) – You don’t need to overload people with every detail about what you’re doing all day or post an update that goes on and on and on.  Keep your updates short and sweet to ensure your friends will read them and be more likely to respond.  Interaction is key after all when it comes to social networking.
3. Talking about what you’re eating – This one went both ways.  Some say tell me what you’re eating!; others say who cares? It may not matter as much what you’re eating as the way you present it.  Don’t just state what you’re eating, but encourage people to respond, laugh and interact.
4. Games – Personally, I’ve turned off the games from my own newsfeed, so this one doesn’t bother me, but not everyone knows how to do that.  I’ve heard a lot of people complain about game updates in their newsfeeds.  If you’re playing a lot of games, keep in mind that the games will post updates in all of your friends’ newsfeeds.  It’s best if you turn off those notifications if you don’t want to bore your friends with what you do in your free time.
5. Touchy-feely copy/paste statements – We’ve all seen these – “If you love your children dearly, copy and paste this into your status…” or “If you have the best husband in the world…”  Don’t get sucked into the chain letter syndrome.  We all know you love your kids and/or your husband and/or your sister and/or…fill-in-the-blank.
6. Pokes – What is this feature anyway?  It’s like not really having something to say, but wanting the other person to know you’re still alive.  If you don’t have anything to say, then don’t be passive-aggressive by “poking” people.  If you do have something to say, comment on their wall instead.
7. Vague updates – Status updates like “Soon” or “Sad” or “Bad news” are like the public equivalent of poking a friend.  They might prompt several replies from people asking for more information, but they’re really just annoying.  Especially because it seems like people who do this don’t comment back when questions are asked.  If you have something to say, say it.  If not, stop with the vague updates.
8. LOL – (the overused abbreviation for Laugh Out Loud) – I’ll admit it.  I’m guilty of this one.  Don’t write LOL unless you’re actually LingOL.