I thought it was bad when my mom joined Facebook.‚  It was my fault.‚  I did that thing where you add pictures then invite friends via email to view your photos.‚  I thought she would be able to see my photos without opening an account.‚  I was wrong.

She signed up, saw my photos, then I unfriended her.

That’s right: I unfriended my mom.

Before you let the shock and horror flood your nervous system, you should know that I talk to my mom at least once a week on the phone.‚  During one of our weekly conversations, I told her I was unfriending her because I don’t like to mix social circles.‚  It never works out.‚  And really, my mom does not need to see some of the comments I make.‚  Really.

But then, my hip aunt joined Facebook, along with every other middle-aged American.‚  I told her I wouldn’t accept her friend request, but she insisted.‚  So I friended my mom again.‚  (BTW I’ve never used “friend” as a verb so much.‚  Makes me feel sloppy.)

There’s a certain etiquette on Facebook that I didn’t realize existed until my mom broke it.‚  I am by no means embarrassed, it’s just revealing of the type of interactions to which I’ve grown accustomed.‚  For example, with over 200 friends, I do not feel the need to comment on every status update or posted link.‚  For awhile, my mom would comment on everything.

I’m okay with it now, and the shine has worn off for her.

Then, my cousins joined Facebook.‚  My nine-year-old cousin, and my 11-year-old cousin.‚  So now, I have to refuse requests to “buy a digital pet” or “fight on Family Guy” or whatever.‚  I get 10 quizzes or applications a week from those guys.‚  I wonder if I should tell them they’re breaking etiquette, like interrupting a conversation.

“Children, please do not flood me with games and quizzes, I’m talking to the grown-ups.”

About The Author

Carly Rose Jackson is a Blast blogger

2 Responses

  1. Hugo

    Friend lists and specific security settings per list are the key to all this, “only on-line” friends do not get to see my home address/phone, family does, “IRL Friends” get other security settings, it takes a little effort to setup but once it’s done it’s easy to manage hundreds of friends and new requests, on the request screen you can immediately put the friend in the appropriate list(s) and thus separating social circles effectively.
    And someone made a FB app that allows you to see who is not on any list (this should be core FB) you can find it by googling “not on facebook friend list” or something like that.

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  2. Sunny

    Wow, my mom does the exact same thing! She comments to everything! It is quite annoying actually. The games and quizzes things, well, I see everyone of Facebook playing those, young and old. I think it is just part of why Facebook is there and the apps it has. If you don’t like ’em, I think you can ignore them… but whatever. I mainly like Facebook for the picture albums, but I thought it was more of a whatever goes there. No real unwritten “etiquitte” that I’ve seen. Except for the commenting on everything, that’s pushing the border. Oh, well.

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