PB1A

          With over 350 million members, Facebook has become one of the most used, reputable, and established social media sites. Although some social media sites like Myspace are starting to die out, Facebook has only been growing larger. Each day, almost 55 million users update their status virally to allow their “friends,” or random strangers they recently added, to see what they are up to. What they post about can range from what they are doing, eating, how they are feeling, or just a random vent. Whether the newbies of Facebook understand or have yet to figure out what a “normal” or typical post is, it is an issue that many seem to figure out at some point.
         A post on Facebook can be used in almost any situation. Most users who post a status do so to gain attention and get as many likes as possible. An article by FStatuses written to address the most well-known Facebook statuses wrote, “One of the hottest questions in social media is what constitutes the most popular Facebook statuses. There is no one simple answer to this, although it is fair to say that light-hearted postings are among the most popular Facebook statuses. This is because they cheer people up and stimulate happiness.” Posts that generate laughter and smiles are ones in particular that are most talked about.
          The length of a Facebook post usually can vary depending on the situation. Facebook posts concerning the death of a loved one, the acknowledgment and voicing of a social problem, or a “love post” that expresses affection generally tend to be longer than most. Posts in regards to a birthday, how an individual is feeling, a random statement (a joke, fact, or small detail that seems important for the whole world to know), or what a person ate that day tends to be smaller posts. Facebook statuses do not necessarily have to be formally stated or correctly punctuated. Abbreviation for words that expose laziness to actually type the whole word are commonly used as well. Some common ones are “u” instead of “you”, “lol” to signify laughter, “omg” to illustrate surprise or shock, and “btw” abbreviated for “by the way.” These are just a few of the regularly used terms to depict and describe feelings. Pictures and videos can also be posted through statuses and shared to allow followers to view a particular event that seemed important enough for the user to capture.
             Facebook statuses can be used by various types of people to promote and update a variety of different circumstances. For example, celebrities usually use this social media site to keep in touch with their fans. They usually post things to keep their followers updated on what’s going on and to promote and advertise events. Usually famous users are more subject to spell correctly, use proper punctuation, and refrain from disrespectful or discourteous posts. Additionally, Facebook can be used by activists/campaigners/ protesters to rally support and educate the public about a certain issue. The site is used as a passage to allow individuals to gain knowledge about problems that can be aided through popular acknowledgment. Advertisers, companies, and businesses also use Facebook to their advantage as they promote and endorse their “sales pitch” to the public. They also usually notify the public about deals and promotions that can be going on to help increase their profits or number of customers. Finally, regular and normal individuals typically update their status to keep close friends and family up-to-date. These types of posts are generally over-looked and irrelevant. Usually when a post relates or is significant to another individual, they can “share” it and allow their followers to additionally view it as well. Posts can be made private to allow only those you are friends with to view it or public to allow everyone that uses Facebook to view it. Statuses can be bland, mean, dramatic, or informative. Users are given freedom to pick and choose what to post.
             Overall, Facebook has become an essential part of millions of lives and has permitted individuals to have a voice, be given an opportunity to change the world, or seem cooler than they are.