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4 Things I like and 4 Things I Don’t like about Facebook

By February 28, 2011Church, Culture, Encouragement

Like many of you, I use my Facebook account every day. There are some things I like and some things I don’t like about this means of social media.

Let me share first what I like:

It’s the easiest and most used way my church connects with me.  I get 3 to 1 the number of emails from Facebook as I get from my church email address from people inside the church.

Facebook makes me appear real, which I am by the way. I probably use Twitter more, but I don’t put everything I Tweet on Facebook. (I know that surprises some…but I really don’t.) I put things that help people connect with me. Sometimes that’s serious, sometimes funny, sometimes even a bit weird, but who you see on Facebook really is who I am.

It makes us seem more of a community. We are a large church. Someone recently called us a “mega church”. I guess technically we are, but our intent is to feel otherwise. Facebook helps us connect throughout the week as a church.

I get to connect with new friends and reconnect with old friends. I have met so many people through Facebook.  I’ve also reconnected with dozens of friends from high school and college. It’s great to see their families and catch up with where life has taken them.

The top news feature is helpful. I really don’t have a ton of time to spend on Facebook.  I’ve tried to automate enough things and use Twitter features where it looks as if I’m online more. Having the top status updates shows me the ones people are talking about most recently and most frequently.

Now, here is what I don’t like:

Having to go to Facebook to reply to emails. I get emails on my phone at my regular email address, but I have to login to Facebook to answer them. This is an extra step that seems unnecessary for me.  I realize Facebook wants me to return frequently in hopes I’ll see an advertiser, but to respond to emails I only want to respond to emails…so that reasoning doesn’t work for me.

Facebook apps are unreliable. I’ve been told Facebook doesn’t even like apps, possibly for the reason I just mentioned…advertising, but I wish they would work on their application functions.  It’s the world in which we live.  My Facebook app crashes often. It doesn’t do certain things. It’s cumbersome. (Does anyone else agree?)

The number of “friends” I can have is limited. I know…I know…there is no way I can “know” all of them, but I am responsive and hate the idea of turning people away. I’m nearing the 5,000 mark soon and that means I have to consider changes. Uggh!

The mindless activity apps…such as Farmville and Give a Hug (or whatever it’s called). I’ve tried to block as many of those type things as I can from receiving them or posting on my wall, but I haven’t figured out how to stop them all together.  I realize some must enjoy them, but not me.

Facebook serves a strategic purpose in my line of work. I’m in the people business and Facebook gives me a great resource to connect with people. I have heard of churches limiting their staffs use of Facebook, Twitter and blogging during the work day, but in my opinion, those three, including Facebook ARE a part of my work day. It’s where a bulk of the people are.

What do you like or not like about Facebook?

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Ron Edmondson

Author Ron Edmondson

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Join the discussion 17 Comments

  • Renee says:

    I agree with you on both lists… especially about the FB app. Currently I can't get pics to upload on it and it's driving me CRAZY! LOL However, I did NOT know there was a limit to the number of friends you could have! Interesting! WHY do they care?! My biggest pet peeve is all the games. They should just make one mega blocker! BTW, glad you're real! haha 🙂

  • ronedmondson says:

    That's a good point

  • ronedmondson says:

    I agree. Thanks

  • Tami Heim says:

    I'm linked with you on both lists. As always – you do a great job of sorting snap shots of life and giving great perspective. I so appreciate that about YOU.

  • I primarily use Facebook to stay in touch with my friends and family. Also it has allowed me to reconnect with a lot of people that I wouldn't have otherwise. On the flip side, it's annoying to filter out updates from specific applications.

  • Becky
    Twitter:
    says:

    Agreed with those. I don't use FB apps that I'm aware of but those are great. I think I like it most because it's a way to connect with people.

  • I do not like how it is occasionally used to air grievances with other people and with churches. LIke almost anything else, it can be misused terribly.

  • Laurinda says:

    I agree with everything you've shared.

    There's effort we all should put into Facebook: privacy settings, hiding games & applications etc… to make it a useful tool. I'm finding it a decent tool to keep in touch with people I do know but would not necessarily pick up the phone to check on. I've reconnected with lots of friends from high school. So far, I have not used it to build a network like I have with Twitter or my blog. I'm not sure if I will ever use Facebook for that purpose. I don't anticipate having thousands of friends. I think I'll do a fan page when my blog subscribers grow tremendously.

    • ronedmondson says:

      Yes, I try hard to use the settings as much as I can. I do have a large network, because I have a large church and many from my blog or Twitter find me there. I don't know how to weed through them and decide who I should add and who I shouldn't, so mostly I accept them. I do want to remain accessible.

  • Larry Baxter says:

    Good points on both good and bad, and yes, email replies are a pain. On the plus side, the way FB is now doing 'groups', when it email-notifies you about a status or comment, you can simply reply back via email and it shows up as a comment! Would be nice if they "rolled that out" to FB email as well. I like the new groups functionality.

  • Valerie says:

    Totally agree! ESPECIALLY about having to log in to fb to reply to messages. I'm trying to limit my use of FB as I noticed it can become like a time sucking vacuum for me! But then I have to log in to answer an email, and that sucking sound starts again! 🙂