The Benefits of Facebook Groups: Do I Need One?
Facebook Groups Can Educate, Support and Entertain
What are some benefits of a Facebook group?
Privacy
Facebook groups allow you to communicate with other members in a more private manner. You wouldn't want to broadcast personal family details as your public status on your wall, so posting to a group of only family members keeps those skeletons in the closet.
You can rest easy venting about your latest challenges to a group of parents of children with autism as they'll likely understand and support without being critical.
Support
Are you trying to lose weight? Have you lost a child through miscarriage? Start a group with those who share a similar goal or life experience. Friends may mean well, but sometimes you need to talk with someone in the same situation to get the support you need.
Education
Have you been diagnosed with a medical condition? Discuss your health care concerns as well as the latest medical information from reputable sources among others with the same illness.
Do you homeschool? Buddy up with other homeschooling families online to compare notes on the best programs available, share resources, set up a co-op or field trips.
Organization
If you have a large number of friends, your Facebook home page may fill quickly with nonsensical status updates, pushing more important updates off the page. A separate group for a specific topic allows you to keep updates and information from group members in a more defined area, apart from the everyday goings on of the general Facebook population.
Real-Time Chat
With the group chat option, you can immediately connect with other group members who are online at the same time. You might publicize a time for a weekly chat, or just throw out a question to see if a member online can help with a quick answer.
Don't Think You Need a Group?
While not an exhaustive list, consider what groups you may already belong to offline that can benefit by grouping online as well.
School (PTA/PTO, faculty, parents, alumni, reunions)
Church (Congregation at large, Sunday school classes, youth groups, prayer chains)
Employment (Employees, occupations, unions)
Military (Wives' clubs, family support groups, veterans' service organizations, individual units/reunions)
Crafting (Quilt making, knit, crochet, crafts to donate to charity)
Source: Facebook.com
Published by Marie Anne St. Jean - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
A Top 1000 Content Producer for the last three years, Marie Anne is a retired U.S. Marine MSgt whose weapons of choice are now crochet hook and pen. When not writing for Yahoo! sites such as YCN! Voice... View profile
- Top 5 Innovative Social NetworksSocial networks are evolving into a place where people can do more than serve as a dating service or just do business.
- FaceBook Groups: the Twelve Greatest FaceBook Groups Ever!FaceBook groups are becoming more and more popular every day. FaceBook groups are being used for more purposes than a bunch of college students keeping in touch. While the variety of possibilities of...
- Social Networks - a Money Pot, or a Money Pit?A perspective on using established social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, to add value to a brand or organization.
- Are Social Networks Encapsulating Us More Than They Are Freeing Us?A look at how computing social networks can effect us
4 Cool Social Networking Sites That'll Change Social Networks ForeverFacebook, MySpace, and Twitter have defined social networking as we now know it, but the trend of social networking has spawned new competitors and these four social networks ar...
- Is a Support Group Right for Me?
- Make Money on Facebook: Not Just a Social Networking Site
- Alternative Hip-Hop Group The Wylde Bunch Rocks Sports Arenas
- Facebook Fans Express Frustration
- How to Create a Yahoo Group
- Free Advice for Yahoo Group Moderators
- The Harry Potter Themed Book Group
17 Comments
Post a CommentThis is a great idea, because I sometimes miss important family posts not only because I get inundated with messages from "friends" I don't know very well, but also because I am often away from my computer for days at a time, sometimes due to travel – often due to my Internet provider. This week it may happen as a result of a storm. I'll look into it for my family. Thanks.
It is important to note that those points are only valid when the creator of the group remembers to set the organization to "Private" and that members do not voluntarily invite other members. That has been a problem with FB groups lately.
I use Facebook to keep up with family members scattered across the country.
Thanks for the advice on how FB groups can be a benefit. I had a FB account, but I didn't like it because of the nonsensical updates and comments. It seemed like an unorganized mess. I should give it a try again.
I've been meaning to create a FB group so this is helpful info!
I gave up on all social network as I was discouraged by it. I enjoy emailing directly with those I care about.
I've read about some controversy with the FB groups. I'll wait a few months until the kinks get worked out :)
I enjoy being able to keep in touch with friends from other countries. Can't afford to call out of country all of the time & with FB, we can 'talk' everyday if we want! Good article, Marie Anne. :)
We do this to keep in touch with our church group. Great benefits of FB. cheers ;)
Excellent article. I have a page, but don't know what to do with it. Time, time, time. You make me think I'm missing something...