Cathy's 5-Minute Facebook

I kept hearing people comment that they don't want to do Facebook because "it takes up too much time."

My observation is, IF you can stay away from the games, keeping up with Facebook can be done if five, yes FIVE, minutes a day.

A friend requested I tell her how, exactly, and this is what I sent her:

1) Go to Facebook, then to "Home" in upper right. 

2) On the left navigation, click "Friends"

3) Click "Status Updates"

Now you will JUST and ONLY what your friends are doing, via status updates! Scroll down as long as you want--it just takes me a minute or so. If I want to comment or "like" it's fast and easy.

Next, at the top next to the "Facebook" logo, just hover and click your cursor on the notification icons; they may have red numbers that tell you how many new friend requests, messages, and updates you've had. You'll see lists of 1) any friends requests you have (and you can confirm then right here); 2) any direct message you have, just click on one to read; and 3) Notifications to glance over.

IF you have more times, you can click on the "news feed" items and you'll see stuff like pictures posted, etc. Which are kind of fun if you have time.

When I use this method I can take 5 minutes and see most of the important stuff. If I have more time, I'll look at the news feed and at pictures.

 I used to play a couple games but they sucked time and I quit. But there were fun :)

And if you are new to Facebook, be sure to edit your privacy settings (upper right corner, under "Account").

About Facebook

I am a pathetic loser of a gramma.

Do I spend my evening baking cookies for the little ones? Do I spend hours working on precious scrapbook pages, so I can proudly display their little faces? Do I knit matching socks-and-hats for them?

Um, no. I spent my evening creating a Facebook page.

Oh, I've been on LiveJournal awhile (family blog), and have blogged on Blogger (Common Sensibilities) for several years, and just started this new blog. And I dabble in MySpace.

But I'd never tried Facebook--for one, when it launched, I definitely was not its demographic. But Web 2.0 being what it is, and social networking being what IT is, and Facebook now not quite so narrow in its members, there I went.

So I whiled away a couple hours last night, filling out my profile, sending emails to my Gmail list (sorry everybody!), clicking through tab by tab. And then I discovered my weakness, as usual ... gadgets!

I admit, learning that Facebook was now open to third-party gadgets was partial impetous to me jumping on the bandwagon. Because I just love gadgets.

And I found some good ones. I particularly recommend the Bookshelf--wow, that one is slick. And the Links was easy. And the travel one--fun.

And guess what! I already have friends! In half an hour I had four! I had wall messages, regular messages, and emails and I was just as excited as if I had invented the internet. And I've got six notifications this morning.

I might be old...but I love Facebook!

Well, what's my invite? Who are you neglecting so you can update your Facebook page?