How to Have Good Facebook Etiquette

Facebook has become a popular social networking tool, not to mention a fun way to pass the time and connect with friends. However, with this relatively new medium of communication comes a responsibility to ensure that you use proper etiquette and not hurt or offend other Facebook users. The following steps will help you to mind your online manners and stay within the boundaries of good Facebook etiquette.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Reply to people who send you a personal message or write on your wall. It's easy to forget to reply to a note here and there on Facebook, but try to keep on top of your replies so that others don't feel slighted or ignored. Whether online or offline, responding to someone who has contacted you is just good manners.

2. Keep applications to yourself. Several applications on Facebook either require or request you to invite your friends to also add the application once you have added it. These unsolicited invitations can clutter one's Facebook homepage and become irritating, not to mention breed contempt for the person who sent them.

3. Set exclusive events to "Private." If you create an event and not everyone on your friends list is invited, such as a Christmas party, make it a secret event. That way none of your uninvited friends will feel slighted if they see the event broadcasted on their newsfeed.

4. Say nothing if you don't have anything nice to say-especially on someone's wall. Remember, Facebook walls are usually accessible for everyone's friends to see and as such can be a minefield unless you remember manners. Friends don't embarrass friends publicly.

5. Try not to delete people from your friends list. Unless your Facebook friend doesn't adhere to Facebook etiquette themselves, try to refrain from deleting them. If not out of consideration for their feelings, then at least out of consideration for a potentially awkward run-in with them in the future.