What is the point of being on Facebook anyway?

That was the question posed to me by two of the seven people the last time I taught “Facebook for Beginners” at Colorado Free University.

You see, these people actually came to the class to build a case for NOT being on Facebook. They were curious about Facebook and why so many people are drawn to it. But they were very unclear about its value for them.

Their reservations got me to thinking about what it is about Facebook that does appeal to me – and millions of other people whose reasons may or may not overlap with mine.

The result of my thinking about this topic is my personal, and thus highly subjective and completely unscientific list of 10 reasons to use Facebook.

 

Top 10 Reasons I Like Being On Facebook

• Stay up-to-date with friends and family – especially those in different time zones with whom alternative forms of communication can be difficult to arrange
• Easy access to photos of family members and friends
• Share what’s up with me with lots of different people with one simple post rather than lots of emails or phone calls – also shares with people I might not have contact with very often through other means
• Share photos of places I’ve traveled to and/or events I’ve attended
• Easily let the largest number of people know about upcoming events – and that doesn’t even include reposts which spread the information even farther
• Be entertained by funny videos or postings
• Be inspired by uplifting quotes – which somehow seem to arrive just when they seem relevant
• Find out about breaking news
• Learn about nonprofits providing valuable services
• Get tips on things I want to know more about – sometimes from people I might not have contact with otherwise

 

Elaboration

Facebook first caught my attention in the fall of 2008, which was two years after the general public was able to join Facebook. Once I created an account, it occurred to me that my nieces and nephews (then in their late teens and twenties) were likely to be on Facebook. Indeed they were, and all accepted my request to be their Facebook friend.

Since my extended family is so far flung, Facebook is a wonderful way for me to stay in touch with them and be more present in their lives. In addition, I have found Facebook to be a very convenient way for me to share the happenings of my life, both the joys and the sorrows.

In addition to its used in my personal life, I have also found it helpful to post about upcoming events and activities of the organizations I belong to. In the past, I relied on emails to do this. Using Facebook allows me to reach far more people.

One of the most delightful reasons to be on Facebook is to enjoy the beautiful photos and videos that people share, along with uplifting quotes and stories of random acts of kindness and individual heroism. Even if all the stories are not true, the humanity they represent is out there, and it’s nice to be reminded of that every so often.

These positive contributions are a welcome counterpoint to the challenges and stresses of daily life.

 

How About You?

What draws you to Facebook? What are your favorite things to see or read about? How do you use this wide-reaching tool to brighten the lives of your Facebook friends?

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 50 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter.

She works with business owners, nonprofit organizations, retired people, consultants, and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.