In Part 1 of the Great and Powerful Facebook we looked at the importance of the social networking aspect of Facebook and the unimportance of the relationship status. In Part 2, we’ll get into more do’s and don’ts including what to do with friend requests from ex-lovers.
People are Going to See This: How often have you gone onto Facebook and come across a set of pictures that you can’t believe got put up there? Party pictures, “model” shots, blogs full of racy thoughts and skeezy observations – it’s as if these people are advertising SEX to the world. So unless you want to broadcast SEX to the world, cool it on the nudey and boozing pics. Which is not to say that you can’t have the pictures, but lock the album or better yet, keep it on a disc and just do a mass email. As for Facebook blogging – keep it PG or shell out the $5 for a domain name and get yourself an actual blog. After all, between your Mom, your Dad, your Grandmom, your Granddad and your boss, at least one of them is on your friends list… and do you want them seeing that side of you?
Don’t Be Another Brick in the Wall: If you really want to move from friends on Facebook to partners in life, then don’t start by broadcasting your intentions on your friend’s wall. Go with something private and subtle, just a little private message asking the person to a cup of coffee or some other appropriate first date. Once on the date, if all is going well, then go for the first move. Don’t try and get everything done at once with a declarative “I love you Tom!” on the ubiquitous wall – take it easy, take your time and move forward.
Exes are not Friends: It is nearly impossible to remain friends with an ex. Sorry, it’s the truth. And if you’re like most people, you treat Facebook like a diorama of your life, where everything important going on with you is out and in the open. Having exes as Facebook friends invites any number of less than healthy continuations of pseudo-intimate behavior. And on top of that, you are just plain aware that they are around – even if they don’t ever say anything, you just know that they are there. So do not accept friend invitation from exes, do not send friend invitations to exes, if and when you two do break up, put some virtual distance between you two by splitting up your Facebook ties.
Read Part 3 of The Great and Powerful Facebook for more dos and don’ts on maximizing the romantic potential of Facebook.
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