Facebook Applications Can Be Fun and Educational

I am listing the Top 10 Facebook Applications - as in the ones that are the most used, the most popular, the safest I've found for myself and my 500 or so "friends" on Facebook. While most Facebook applications are harmless, one should be careful about downloading or "allowing" an application to access your information. I stick to the ones on Facebook itself, not outside the site.

Exercise good judgment and check your security settings before you choose to access any application! In no particular order, here are my Top 10 Facebook Applications. They are all free!

1) Mobile Uploads
This application is automatically added to your profile when you set up a Facebook Account. It simply allows you to upload photographs taken on your cell phone or Blackberry, directly to your Facebook Account. It is quick and easy to use. The Application Icon of a picture sits at the bottom of your page. Once uploaded, you can edit the photo, crop it, add a caption or "tag" people (add their individual names to the picture).

2) Word Challenge
This will remind you of a game the teacher had you play in school. You are given a set of letters and you must make as many words out of those letters in a given time. Earn points for each right answer and bonus points if you use all of the letters to make a word. You get hints and are rated against your friends for standings. The only drawback is that you cannot challenge a friend to play at the same time. Your friends get a notice to try and beat your score.

3) Scramble
This Facebook Application allows you to play this game alone, challenge one friend, or challenge several friends. It's a bit like Wordfind and you can choose from either a small or large playing board and you must find the most words on the playing board in a given time. You get more points for longer words and the object is to beat your friends or your own record. It can be quite challenging, but you can play over and over again, practicing finding those more obscure words!

4) Marvel Collector
This is one of several Facebook Applications where you can "give" certain Marvel Characters to your friends and they can reciprocate. You can only "unlock" or reveal a certain number of characters each day, so it encourages you to keep coming back to see what is new. It really is just for fun and allows you a unique way to "connect" with fellow fans.

5) Pop Answers
Designed similar to Family Feud, this game asks you to name as many items in a particular category that were named by a random 100 people asked. Each answer is revealed on the "board" in order of response. The object is to guess the top answers from other people. It is great fun, however, be aware that they will give you "tickets" to give you hints. That is a marketing ploy. It doesn't involve money, but you may be asked to accept promotions. Don't give in to the "tickets". This game has been improved over time so that the answers are revealed at the end of your time, and now you can get daily reminders to go and play.

6) Facebook Movies
Because all of my friends and I are huge movie fans, this Facebook Application allows us hours of fun to challenge each other and ourselves with plenty of quizzes in a wide variety of movie subjects. It is one of those applications that allows Facebook users to make up and present their own quizzes. There is even a Never-Ending Movie Quiz that is for the true film devotee. You may find you've spent hours answering these questions!

7) Mafia Wars
This Facebook Application seems to be most popular with my male friends. You get to start a Mafia Family with your friends (that you invite to play), do Crime Jobs for cash, buy weapons, find "treasures", trade with your friends for points and superiority and fight. It is a safe way to pretend you are part of the mob without any real bloodshed and bodies.

8) Social Interview
This application does pull names of your friends and asks random questions you are supposed to answer and then share with that friend. For example: "Would Jane Smith make a good cook?" or "What would John Smith's Mafia name be?" You might want to be careful what you say.

9) Cafe World
This Facebook Application is just fun and very benign. In Café World, you're in charge of your very own restaurant. You get to choose the menu, cook up a storm, serve your "customers", trade ideas and recipes with others and give away food too. The object is to cook your way to the top of the culinary world!

10) Collect Hearts
I have many friends from around the world in my Facebook Account. Not all of them speak English fluently. This Facebook Application is simple. You can choose from many different types of heart graphics to send to a friend or all of your friends with a simple sentiment. The pictures of the hearts do not need translation and I often send them to friends who do know English when I know they are having a bad day. It may sound schmaltzy, but it works.

Be sure to notice that you can choose to bypass many of the portions of an application that asks you to "Choose friends that might like this application" or "Post to all your friends walls". You do have options!