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Coronavirus

Does anyone still use Facebook these days?

(109 Posts)
Judy54 Thu 02-Apr-20 17:24:35

I don't use social media, apart from Granset and am a complete novice. Friends and family are keeping in touch by phone, email and text which is great. However groups that I belong to have set up pages on Whatsapp and/or Facebook. I can't acccess whattsapp as I don't have a smartphone so would facebook be the next best thing? It looks like there is so much more on there than groups I belong to including links to what is happening in my neighbourhood/community at this time. Any advice/tips would be most welcome.

Hurg Sat 04-Apr-20 12:14:59

Yes I use Facebook but really only for family. My grandsons all grownups have set up a group for them and me but excluding parents! Could be difficult but I feel privileged to have a close relationship with them.

GrammaH Sat 04-Apr-20 12:19:19

I've been on FB for years and it's a super way to keep up with family & friends. As so many have commented, it's especially useful at this time to find out about such things as refuse collection and where's open/doing deliveries/collections etc. I have fibromyalgia & find the support group I belong to on FB invaluable.

Sally2019 Sat 04-Apr-20 12:25:52

You dont need facebook for whatsapp.

Thecatshatontgemat Sat 04-Apr-20 12:43:30

Never used it. Never want to.
Stick with the phone, as there are very many pitfalls to the unwary.

Missiseff Sat 04-Apr-20 12:46:11

Use FB a lot - brilliant for seeing what friends/ex-colleagues are up to & I also follow lots of pages that interest me. I love it.

missdeke Sat 04-Apr-20 13:04:31

I've used Facebook a long time, at the moment it's been a godsend. One of my daughters has created an online quiz every weekday at 7 pm, so can catch up with all the family there. I also play online scrabble on Facebook, I can't play board games and suchlike at the moment as I live alone. I've also started playing other games on Facebook too to fill the time. It can be a very useful tool.

Strawberry22 Sat 04-Apr-20 13:27:16

Facebook is great and a big comfort at the moment especially if you are feeling lonely as it never stops,it's a good place and ive never had a problem on there.So many groups to join,im on a budget cooking and shopping group and love reading other people's posts and how they make meals out of very little.There is a big world out there and don't be afraid of it as it's company,friends will be on it.Go for it xx

Strawberry22 Sat 04-Apr-20 13:28:48

But many many good things,more good than bad ?

BelindaB Sat 04-Apr-20 13:36:57

I only joined fb when I had retired and was trying to find my family. Through fb, I did and still have it although I don't "use" it as such.

A short time after I opened an fb account I saw a piece on "rip off britain" about how easy it is for criminals to obtain info about you, where you live etc and I took it to heart. My fb account has nothing personal about me whatsoever and I would close it completely, except the dog charity I volunteer for notifies us via fb.

As everyone else has said- yes, use it but be super, super careful about what details you make available.

GrandmaAnge Sat 04-Apr-20 13:44:06

It's great to see how Facebook in particular has come into its own during the current crisis. Friends and family can keep in touch, feel supported and learn about what is happening locally. Nasty comments are few and far between and many people's innate goodness is coming through. I suppose it's taken the coronavirus to send Facebook back to its roots - it's now being used as it was originally intended, as a social media that helps bring people together.

NfkDumpling Sat 04-Apr-20 13:46:08

I’ve been on FB for years as it’s the main way to keep in touch and find out what DD1 is up to. But it means I also keep in touch with my cousins who I never see.

I only have 40 friends and I’m set up for Friends Only on every privacy setting. But I’m in quite a few closed groups, mostly local history and interest groups. I’ve also found a distant cousin in Canada and another in-law relative in Australia and because they’re both my friends are now friends too! We’ll never meet in the flesh but are now firm friends.

NfkDumpling Sat 04-Apr-20 13:47:35

I should add that I am careful about what I put on. Never share photos of the grandchildren and only put on holiday photos AFTER we’ve returned home.

MerylStreep Sat 04-Apr-20 13:48:39

What happened to the OP ? It would be nice to hear what she thinks now she's read all the positive posts that people have taken the time to post.

Monica53 Sat 04-Apr-20 13:57:14

Yes, all the time, great for keeping in touch with family in USA, Australia and Canada especially and love seeing videos of my grandchildren and when they pop up again the year after. Used correctly it is entertaining.

Athenia Sat 04-Apr-20 14:10:07

Facebook is what you make it. Like the internet itself, it is a means of connecting with the wider community. I never post personal or family information, but love to pass on interesting posts from the groups I belong to. These include local history, Horse Human Bond, Gals over fifty and in the Saddle, one for people with Crohn's..............I could go on, as interest groups are very well catered for. I live alone, so this is an important aspect of my community life. You do need to actively manage your use of FB, and come out of a group if it is not useful to you. But otherwise, how else would I see my sister's new granddaughter, or the latest photos of racehorses exercising on the Downs, posted by my friend, or ask for help and advice in a family crisis?

moggie57 Sat 04-Apr-20 14:14:22

i enjoy facebook .of course with any website you get trolls and nutcases ,and big mouths ,but you can delete them and the conversation. but i like keeping in touch with my friends from around the world and there are word games to play....only post to friends and groups ,and dont click on like every time .you get 3rd parties find your details ,but you can put a block on them too. make sure your privacy setting are for you and friends only..

Jishere Sat 04-Apr-20 14:33:11

You don't need a smartphone to access WhatsApp. You just download it onto your mobile or laptop

Judy54 Sat 04-Apr-20 14:52:23

Wow what great replies. It seems that Facebook is coming into its own during the coronavirus. I am interested to join to see what groups there are in my area. I will give it a go and be mindful of all the helpful advice about privacy settings. Thanks everyone.

I have been unsuccessful in downloading Whats app without a smart phone sadly it has not worked for me.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 04-Apr-20 14:53:10

I'm use Facebook in a limited way. My privacy settings are for family and friends only. I joined so that if others go to the seaside for instance (nothing like that at the moment obviously, they can post nice pictures of the sea or whatever and I can respond with a comment. I absolutely refuse point blank to put pictures of myself and my doings/wanderings on it. I was advised to put a photo on so I used one of my cat.
There are local groups which focus on various items such as opening times of the council, etc etc which is handy.

Joesoap Sat 04-Apr-20 15:31:57

I love Facebook, it keeps me in touch with relatives and friends, and is very good for getting information locally and otherwise.I have joined many groups and it is so nice to "socialise" in this was these days.
My favourite is Gransnet of course, I check very morning when I turn my computer on.
Someone told me that its "only older peple who use Facebook these days" cheeky so and so.

Eloethan Sat 04-Apr-20 16:08:10

I'm on it but rarely look at it or use it.

Madmaggie Sat 04-Apr-20 16:46:10

As others say, be careful of your privacy. Don't announce holidays you are about to take, don't post pictures showing your house number, don't accept friend requests from those you don't know and please dont participate in quizes that are very frequent but help scammers build information about you (the sort banks ask for) such as name your first school etc. I use it and find it useful for local info, see friends & family on it, get knitting info, news, funny cartoons. I enjoy seeing items from ex work colleagues who are on my friends list, one has taken up photography and he has such talent & shares his shots of wildlife, buildings etc. Just remember you don't HAVE to share personal info.

CardiffJaguar Sat 04-Apr-20 17:12:36

Never have, never will.

dragonfly46 Sat 04-Apr-20 17:22:20

I think FB is much more secure than GN. I am very wary of posting pictures on here as it is a public forum. You can adjust your security settings on FB!

BazingaGranny Sat 04-Apr-20 17:39:30

Like others, I love Facebook for keeping in touch, but am very careful:

1. When registering, I used a different birthdate and year. Didn’t add my phone number or address.
2. Didn’t use my surname, just my first name and a pseudonym
3. Regard it as an open postcard that anyone can see, just in case of scammers, was advised to do this by an NHS internet security expert
4. Love some of the groups I’m a member of, including flowers, LBC
5. Never write a post in haste, never write anything that is critical
5. Love seeing photos of friends and family all over the world, especially now
6. You can change your details, if and whenever you want to, even if you’ve been on Facebook for years.
7. And yes, privacy ramped up to a high level. Just let friends and family know, so that they can find you.

That’s all, folks! ?✅