How to Be a Good Facebook Friend

I only joined Facebook 4 months ago and already, it has become a part of my daily routine. This social network lures me in with a bit of that voyeurism type feeling and some nostalgia for old times (many old camp buddies and high school friends are in my network).

Of course, if you are familiar with Facebook, you know that many of the people who friend you are not really friends at all, but people who you vaguely knew 10, 15, or even 20 years ago. You might have been on the same social circle but only knew them peripherally.

Now that I am connected to all of these people, I wish I didn't know so much about them. I have a few hints for Facebook users on how to be a good Facebook friend.

Facebook tip #1 - Don't brag about vacations

Don't tell me where you are going on vacation. This winter has been especially harsh in the northeast, where I live and if I don't have plans to travel to a resort in a warm climate. I don't care to hear about your vacation plans. If you are a good friend of mine, I will have communicated with you outside of Facebook and will know of your vacation plans.

Facebook tip #2 - Don't reveal how bored you are

Don't illustrate to me how mundane your life is or how much free time you have. I don't care to know if you are cleaning the house, taking a nap or picking up your kid from school. However, sometimes I like to know what television shows you watch, which movies you are planning to see or what books you have read.

Facebook tip #3 - Don't talk endlessly about your kids

Don't keep mentioning or bragging about your children. You may not even know it, but many of your Facebook friends could be struggling with infertility issues. The most hurtful thing you can do is to endlessly post status updates about your kids, or talk about how cute they are.

A more considerate solution to satiate your urge to brag about your kids is to post photos of them on your Facebook photo album. This way, your friends will have to option to look at the photos if they so desire, but they don't have to read about the kids involuntarily.

Facebook tip #4 - Don't post more than one status update per day

Some people use more than their fair share of status updates. I often check Facebook from my Blackberry. When you use your mobile device to check Facebook status updates, you can only view 4 or 5 updates at a time. I have seen instances of the same person posting 3 status updates within 3 hours and not being able to see any other updates besides this one person's.

Facebook tip #5 - Tell a joke

Sometimes, instead of revealing too much about yourself, why not tell a joke on your status line? Everyone likes to have a little chuckle once in a while. Telling a joke or posting something humorous will show your Facebook friends how witty you are.

Here is an example of a clever status line that one of my friends used: "Mike is ... I can't say."