10 Things to Avoid Doing on Facebook 2013

Facebook offers a convenient way to keep up with friends and acquaintances. Like every Internet innovation, however, it has its downside. Making a misstep can have ruinous effects on everything from your computer hardware to your friends and family. To get the most out of Facebook, educate yourself on the common mistakes every user should do his best to avoid.

Spamming

Spamming can take many forms on Facebook, and you may be guilty of it yourself without realizing it. Sending multiple game or application requests to the same people over and over, even if they're on your Facebook friends list, can annoy others, and they may report you for spamming. If you want to recommend a page, product or app, choose the few friends who might be interested. Posting the same content, such as a promotional link, to multiple fan pages or groups can also be seen as spam. If enough people report you, your Facebook access may be in danger.

Accepting Malware and Viruses

Be particularly wary of clicking Facebook links from people you don't know you can trust, especially if they promise something that sounds too good to be true. Promises of free products or exclusive access to shocking material, such as videos and pictures, are often attempts to infect your system with viruses or malware, which could have negative effects such as damaging your computer or spamming your friends. Requests to download or install something to gain access to content is one giveaway of malicious intent.

Oversharing

Oversharing is when you divulge too much personal information. In real life, you might confide in your mom that the chili you ate last night gave you diarrhea, but it's probably not something everyone else on your friends list wants to know. At worst, a misjudged Facebook rant can cost you your job. You can always share details of your sex life, bathroom troubles and domestic arguments with a few select friends, via private message.

Making Private Information Public

This applies to confidential information such as your address and phone number. You're unlikely to share this sort of data in a status update, but you may unwittingly share it publicly if you haven't checked your privacy settings. Click "Account," then "Privacy Settings" to determine how much others can see. Even sharing your birthday publicly can be an open invitation to identity thieves.

Giving the Game Away

Remember that what you post to Facebook is visible to everyone on your friends list. If you phone in sick to work and then update your status to inform everyone you're spending the day at the beach, word could get back to your employer. Likewise, you could find yourself in trouble making an excuse to duck out of a party invite only to announce via Facebook that you're actually sat at home watching TV.

Status Updates

If you have a bone to pick with a friend, say what you have to say to her face. Posting "Some people are just jealous" as a status update and hoping the offending person will get the message is immature, not to mention annoying to those who don't have a clue what you're talking about. Many will see it as attention-seeking behavior.

Becoming Addicted

Anything can become an addiction if you devote too much time and energy to it at the expense of all else. Clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Fenichel has suggested that "Facebook Addiction Disorder" is an increasing reality for some users. Balance your online life with other pursuits; read a book, pick up the phone to talk to a friend or arrange a real-life coffee date. Social networking has many benefits, but as in everything in life, balance is the key to health and happiness.