Like, Do YOU Facebook Stalk?

Facebook has really evolved since its creation our freshman year of college. Back then it was only for select colleges. Now anyone and everyone has a FB page. Even people our parents age! Eek! (Thankfully my parents aren’t that tech savy. Yet. I actually tried to convince my dad that G-chat was glorious, but to no avail. At this rate I think I have many years before he gets the urge to create a Facebook profile. And many more before he uses the site regularly.)

Anyway, one of the most joked about Facebook topics is stalking. We all know it happens. Especially now that the iPhone is so prevalent…a person could be brought up in conversation at a party and within seconds a group of people are scrolling through hundreds of their tagged pictures.

Random Thoughts from People Our Age:

"# 35. Whenever I’m Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don’t mind if I do!"

Texts From Last Night:

(262): Facebook really needs to add a bikini picture profile tab for girls, it would really save me countless amounts of time!

One of the “founding principles” of Facebook is that someone will never be able to tell if you have viewed their profile. I think we can all breathe a sigh of relief on that one. You know you have looked at the profile of someone you haven’t spoken to in years. Or would fall into the frequent visitors category of a few members of the opposite sex. But in my opinion… all of this is just use of the site. Boredom busting.

Do you REALLY Facebook Stalk? Like use the website to keep tabs on what is going on in another person’s life? Particularly a member of the opposite sex that you’re interested in. Or stuff is happening with? I know girls who do this. It’s not that I won’t browse the profile of a guy I’m interested in. I do, but I don’t take Facebook for “face value.”

Reason #1: Facebook is a cooler version of everyone. People untag unflattering photos. Post pictures that show themselves having a good time. List interests or quotes that sound impressive. Very rarely will the “About Me” section of a guy read: “I’m really a douchebag.” When REALLY he is a DOUCHEBAG.

Reason #2: If something is actually “going on” in a guy’s life…there is a good chance it’s not blatantly on Facebook. Maybe there are signs. Maybe there aren’t. I realized recently one of my most *ahem* action packed times of the past year has little Facebook activity. I think I just didn’t have as much time to use the site. And when I did I definitely was NOT posting messages to certain guys for the world to see. And they weren’t writing on my wall either.

Reason #3: I think more often than not people use Facebook to keep in touch. Especially Wall Posting. Yeah… you probably won’t write on the wall of someone you barely know. But just because communication happens between members of the opposite sex does NOT mean something is going on. Same for pictures. Which takes us back to Reason #1: Facebook is a cooler version of everyone. Recent activity = Things going on in your life. No activity= Less excitement?

Basically ladies…you can use Facebook all you want to keep tabs on a guy. But how do you even know if it’s an accurate depiction of what’s going on in his life? So please don’t obsessively stalk. If a guy REALLY likes you, you’ll know. And probably very few of those signs will come through Facebook....