Why do you like Facebook?

[Zetablade]

So as the title implies Why do you like Facebook so much? I never got into Facebook.
I use it on average once every 2 weeks but all my friends must have their news feed open at
all times. Hell a couple of my friends have more than 1200 pictures! Isn't that overdoing it a bit? So fellow Escapists why do you think people use Facebook so much?

 

[Jonluw]

I don't particularly like Facebook, but since my friends convinced me to make a profile, I figured I might as well post lots of random stuff there (My profile picture is a close-up of a trout)

It's quite handy for keeping in contact with everybody though. I can get a hold of anyone, so long as it isn't urgent.

 

[Lexxi64]

It's just something so mind-numbing and time consuming, isn't it? I think that's why people use it, mostly. Or to stalk people who would never look at them in a million years in the real world. I have Facebook, but use it just to find other like-minded people who are into games and would like to play online with me. Also to write ridiculous 'funny' statuses that nobody likes except myself!
I do feel a bit left out if I quit facebook; my real life friends are on it and have a laugh on facebook. If I'm not on it, I don't really talk to them except for in school, so it's just another way of keeping on contact with them. It's a very over-rated site, though.

 

[The Maddest March Hare]

I really, really don't. But everyone I know hails it as the fucking second coming and use it as their only way of contact with the outside world beyond face to face, so it's either Facebook or only speaking to people within my immediate vicinity. When I'm at home, the nearest person is about 15 miles away...so..yeah. That's why I use it.

Diaspora is looking good though, Open Source makes everything better.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Im not a fan of mobile phones, its a money sucking brain tumor device. (I still have one, but its not my lifeline like most people)
MSN messenger is shit.
About 5 of my 161 friends on facebook have xboxlive so thats not a good way to communicate

Its really my only form of -remote- communication with friends and family.

 

[ShakesZX]

I don't like facebook. I only have a profile for other people to get in touch with me (since some of them seem to have the page glued to their eyes or something.)

 

[drbarno]

It's quite handy for keeping in contact with everybody though. I can get a hold of anyone, so long as it isn't urgent.

That, and only that, is the reason I have facebook. Seeing as it was the only way I could get into contact with some of my friends.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

I'm a social person, I have a large group of friends.

Facebook is fine, I don't spend days on it or anything but it is a good way to set up large events or stay in touch with long distance friends.

 

[Lilani]

I have a Facebook, and for me it's a good way to keep track of my family and friends. I HATE talking on the phone, though. I don't feel it's a good alternative for physically being there and having a conversation. For things like "hey, don't forget to get this at the store" or "hey do you want to go to a movie later" both it and texting are fine, but anything else feels weird to me.

Anyway, back on the subject of Facebook, I keep track of a lot of events and obligations through it. I don't use it as a lifeline by any means, and I usually only go on to glance at any events or messages I might have. Other than that, it's not really that big of a deal.

 

[mireko]

I don't like Facebook, but my friends made me sign up. There's no going back. NO GOING BACK.

 

[Space Spoons]

I like it for the same reason I liked MySpace: It's an easy, quick way to stay in touch with friends and family. I'm pretty safe with my security settings and whatnot, so it just seems like harmless fun to me.

 

[SturmDolch]

I wouldn't say I like it, but I definitely don't dislike it. It's good for setting up events and posting a random thought, and keeping an online profile that your friends can check out.

I don't understand how people can spend hours on it, though... Seriously. I walk into the library computer lab, and I'll see dozens of students just staring at their Facebook feeds. How boring is that!?

 

[101flyboy]

I don't. I don't do social media. Waste of my time, I don't feel like keeping up with it, or talking to people 24/7 when I just want to chillax on the net.

 

[GeorgW]

I don't. I don't have an account and probably never will. My GF even went celibate in order to extort me into getting FB, but I prevailed!

 

[Eternal_Lament]

Facebook I find is useful for setting up hang-out nights with friends or to basically ask quick questions that are like texts, but free (assuming your friends even have cell-phones of course). Also, it allows for some witty one liners for when you just want to screw around with your friends profond messages.

 

[Eumersian]

I spend a whole lot of time on it. I got one because some important school information was going to be posted, and I had to friend the person posting it. But now, since the school I'm at is hours from where I live, I like to use it to keep up with old friends.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

It's useful. It's easy to share stuff with people (most of my extended family lives in Ireland. Besides, you tell me a better way to share photos with friends.) and organise stuff (easier than group texts). It also makes it easy to know when bands are touring, festival updates and the Gill and Beez (Metal Hammer Podcast guys) page is good.

And how else would I share witty comments? The 'why did Nick Clegg cross the road?' group justifies FB's existence anyway.

Spoiler

Answer: Because he said he wouldn't

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

I don't like it, but my friends use it, so I do to.

 

[Guitar Gamer]

Well in the thread title you are asking ME (as in escapists) why we like it, and in the OP you ask why we think others do, so I'll answer both.
I like it because it allows me to connect with friends for free, multiple friends, so while I may for whatever ccircumstances cannot leave the houe (or wont) I can still be a little bit in the loop. If a friend is far away I can talk to them, again for free.......can't emphasise that enough

Why others like it? probably the same reasons, why do some (some not all) use it 24/7, make a minimum of 10 status's a day, and become fans of thousands of redudant things that stopped being interesting around the time my baby teeth fell out? probably because they don't actually have a social life outside of facebook