Since when did social networks become social minefields? There used to be a saying ‘You can choose your friends but not your family’…now even choosing your friends is complicated. Thanks to social networking sites like Facebook, social etiquette just got harder.
When to poke and not poke? How often to update your status? And, most importantly, just who are your friends?
The nation is divided into facebookers who accept anyone who asks as their new bezzy mates, and facebookers who actively refuse friend requests. It’s a true test of character. I mean, how many people have you accepted that you’re now secretly regretting? And how do you drop them politely without them noticing? It can’t be done! And just how many exes do you have on there before your partner gets into the whole Facebook thing and starts asking awkward questions?
As I say, it’s a social minefield. And it’s not just Facebook. I know of one person who is refusing to update his LinkedIn because he doesn’t want people at his last company to know where he went next.
According to a new report we generally have 5 close friends no matter how many ‘friends’ we claim on Facebook, and almost all our close friends are ones we’ve made face to face, which begs the question why don’t we just meet them down the pub?
A friend of mine has been on facebook for ages and his wife recently joined. She wrote on his wall: “I’ve learnt more about you on your facebook profile in the last ten minutes than I have in the last eight years of marriage AND this is more fun than actually having a conversation with you.” And then she threw a turd at his Superwall. I guess that means they’re pretty close friends.