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With all its meaningfulness as an amazing tool to connect and share with friends, family and professional contacts on the web, Facebook can also be a plain simple waste of time.
It's not that we can't spend some time taking a test, we all like to have fun and entertain ourselves on the web. But Facebook's ability to constantly hit you with more and more quizzes, applications and various time wasters can lead you to hours lost if you don't use it with care.
We recently showed you how to be an efficient Facebook user; now, get to know which are the top time wasters to avoid when logged in. Then, you can choose which ones you still want to be a part of, but at least you won't just be trapped in the endless games and "Which princess are you?" madness.
1. Installing too many applications (games, tests, etc.)
Facebook has all kinds of software that allow you to share information and fun with your friends. These are called "Applications." Some of them are incredibly useful to share information and call to action, but many of them can be a waste of time.
As much as we like to have fun online, when you get ten different requests to take a test or play a game per minute, it can get too time consuming. Plus, once installed in your profile, these applications will bug you constantly with "Notifications".
So is knowing "Which desktop icon are you?" worth the trouble? Think about that before allowing one of these to enter your profile.
If you already have too many installed, just go to the Applications page and hit the "X" button next to each you don't need anymore.
2. Not setting a time limit
Facebook will constantly offer you new and more things to look at, and if you don't draw yourself some limits it's pretty possible that you are going to spend tons of time there.
If you're really disciplined, you can try setting up a time tracker in your computer and start it when you enter to know how much you've been logged in Life Hacker has a vast selection of time trackers for Windows and Mac.
If you're like most of us and get sucked in, you can use the website MinutesPlease, which allows you to enter any website setting a time limit for it. For example, you can enter Facebook and only set 15 minutes, and the service will give you a notice when those have passed.
3. Getting caught in the IM chat
Perhaps you logged in to Facebook to have a quick look, but a friend saw you online and began talking to you. You think, "Ok, just a few words." Next thing you know, you've lost an hour.
How to avoid this? Go offline in chat all of the time. Only log in if you really have time to spend on Facebook.
4. Receiving too many e-mails
If you haven't tweaked at least a few of your settings, chances are you are receiving emails for everything that goes on at your account. It's not that this is wrong, but let's face it: you don't really need to know that a friend has sent you a "gift" and also you don't need to be reminded to go into Facebook every five minutes.
Plus, sending these e-mails wastes tons of energy for you to just delete them. Instead, you can find out about all these things when you log in to your Facebook account, when you have a preset amount of time to do so.
To change these options, go to Account Settings and choose the "Notifications" tab, there click "off" on all the e-mail notifications you don't really need.
5. Replying to every request
In times of constant connection, we can often feel obliged to respond to every little thing that's sent to us. But truth is, we don't need to, especially not on Facebook.
Your friends are not thinking about absolutely everything they send to you, and therefore don't need your immediate answer. So let 'Requests' pile up and reply to them once every few days. Nobody will be hurt.
6. Adding 'friends' you don't care about
Some people feel bad about not accepting a friend request, but adding people you don't really care to read about or be in touch with to your contacts will only lead to time wasting.
Don't be afraid to push the "ignore" button; they won't know you did and they will surely find more people to be friends with.
7. Joining groups for everything
It's one thing to join a group of your favorite artist, or a cause to do good, but what's the use of adding to the statement, "I like to sleep"?
You may think it's not a problem, but when you join a group you'll be receiving updates and e-mails from it and therefore wasting time. Why not just joining the ones that make sense?
8. Uploading too many pictures and media
Apart from wasting valuable energy in the uploading and hosting process, when you publish too many pictures on Facebook you're also spending tons of time. And for what? Ten different photos of the same face?
We're not saying you shouldn't share with friends, but what about thinking, "Does this really say something new about me?" before uploading?
9. Obsessively updating
Perhaps this is more evident in Twitter, but truth is some people are obsessive about documenting every second of their lives on Facebook. Again, not that we're calling this wrong, but have you considered how much time it takes you to log in, load the Facebook website (which is kind of heavy on slow connections), write that you're making pancakes, and wait for it to publish?
We all want to be connected, but why not try to build a more interesting personality online, and share fewer, but more valuable thoughts?
However, if you still want to share instant thoughts, you can try downloading applications like Tweetdeck, which will let you update your status and read your friends' without the need to enter Facebook each time.
While your trimming your Facebook time and energy, make the easiest green move: Fan Planet Green and TreeHugger.
Exploring green social networks? Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @planetgreen.
More on using social networks wisely:
Help Actress Jessica Biel Make a Difference With Her Online Social Network
Green Volunteerism Online Resources
Using Facebook to Join Up With Green Movements
What to do with that extra time you're saving on Facebook? Check out our Travel+Outdoor category
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