According to Facebook I have been a member since 2009. I cannot believe that I have actually been using Facebook for five years because I still feel as if I don’t know what I am doing.

There is one Facebook rule I know for sure, never ever ever ever comment on my children’s Facebook pages or that of my nieces and nephews. I am well aware that if I go beyond merely liking a picture they posted or a status I risk saying something that will embarrass them and be forever defriended. Beyond this basic rule, I am still a bit oblivious as to how to act on Facebook.

I’m not one to post statuses, other than to ask people read my blog. Some people in their statuses, however, seem to give me much too much information. Recently, one of my “friends’” statuses was, “Going in for a bubble bath, hmmm.” I’m not sure what that  "hmmm" even means but it does put images in my head that I don’t want there. Why do some people insist on putting more information out on the internet than they would in the real world?

Speaking of statuses, I cringe when I see people announce to the world that they are away from home. It gives me visions of a burglar reading the status and laughing and saying to his accomplice, “John Smith is in Hawaii this week, let’s go get us their 80” television.” I know that if your privacy settings are set correctly, only your friends can see your status, but why take that risk?

I enjoy seeing everyone’s pictures, and post pictures myself (with the help of my kids), but I wonder about the etiquette of picture posting on Facebook. Do I have to like everyone’s pictures? Do people take offense if I miss a picture and fail to hit like for a picture? Will they defriend me if I miss their picture?

Can you help me or are you as clueless as I am?