WWYD: New Facebook or No?

PugRolls · October 2009

My work has gotten into the social media thing for marketing. This is fine, of course, except that I keep getting friend requests from people at my work. I've been ignoring them for a while, but I seem to be getting more and more of them. There's no way I want to add anyone from my work to my personal FB page (where I let my politics, late-night shenanigans, and whatever else all hang out), so I'm wondering whether I should set up a "professional" FB page?

Thoughts appreciated!

mrsmauimary · October 2009

I probably would set up a "professional" account. That way, you don't look like you're snubbing anyone and also, you get to keep your fun real "you" fb account! It's hard to balance both. I have some work peeps on mine, but just the fun ones that know how I roll. LOL.

RD913 · October 2009

I would set up a professional account. That way you can still be "social" with your coworkers, and won't have to worry about any of them seeing your personal life photos, etc.

annasan_k · October 2009

I'm in the software industy, so social internet networking is really big. When I started my new job, I started a new practice. For all work people requests, I simply say I use FB only for my friends and family and I don't budge. If they think I'm snubbing them, too bad - I like to keep my work and home life very very separate. Anyway, they can follow me on twitter (just kidding!).

Kalani · October 2009

Absolutely! But I like Annasan's thinking about reserving it for friends and family and not budging if you don't want to set up another acct.

inamra · October 2009

Yeah, I would say it might be best to have another account if you don't want to ignore their friend requests. Either that or you can just ignore their friend requests like you've been doing and leave it at that.

redshoegirl · October 2009

inamra:
Yeah, I would say it might be best to have another account if you don't want to ignore their friend requests. Either that or you can just ignore their friend requests like you've been doing and leave it at that.

I agree with this. Really, it depends on what you want to do. Do you want to be FB friends with them? Then I'd make a second account. But if you don't - if you think it would be a PITA to keep up with, or pointless, or just plain don't want to do it - then I'd just politely tell them that I prefer to keep it to just non-work friends and family. A few might feel snubbed, but really, FB is not necessarily for colleagues, you know? I do have 4 coworkers as friends on my account, but they're all people I would see socially outside of work as well - I'd never add someone to my friend list that I didn't actually consider a friend.

peachmango · October 2009

I think setting up a "professional" account is a great idea. It's either that or try to setup a group so they can only see certain stuff.

mrsdarling · October 2009

redshoegirl:

inamra:
Yeah, I would say it might be best to have another account if you don't want to ignore their friend requests. Either that or you can just ignore their friend requests like you've been doing and leave it at that.

I agree with this. Really, it depends on what you want to do. Do you want to be FB friends with them? Then I'd make a second account. But if you don't - if you think it would be a PITA to keep up with, or pointless, or just plain don't want to do it - then I'd just politely tell them that I prefer to keep it to just non-work friends and family. A few might feel snubbed, but really, FB is not necessarily for colleagues, you know? I do have 4 coworkers as friends on my account, but they're all people I would see socially outside of work as well - I'd never add someone to my friend list that I didn't actually consider a friend.

This, exactly. Isn't there a separate social networking site for colleagues? I don't remember what it's called, but I know my former boss used to get requests to join it.

liubride510 · October 2009

mrsdarling:
redshoegirl:

inamra:
Yeah, I would say it might be best to have another account if you don't want to ignore their friend requests. Either that or you can just ignore their friend requests like you've been doing and leave it at that.

I agree with this. Really, it depends on what you want to do. Do you want to be FB friends with them? Then I'd make a second account. But if you don't - if you think it would be a PITA to keep up with, or pointless, or just plain don't want to do it - then I'd just politely tell them that I prefer to keep it to just non-work friends and family. A few might feel snubbed, but really, FB is not necessarily for colleagues, you know? I do have 4 coworkers as friends on my account, but they're all people I would see socially outside of work as well - I'd never add someone to my friend list that I didn't actually consider a friend.

This, exactly. Isn't there a separate social networking site for colleagues? I don't remember what it's called, but I know my former boss used to get requests to join it.

I use Linkedin for my professional networking and FB for friends and family. Linkedin is strictly professional though...you don't have a "what are you doing right now" type thing. You can upload a photo of yourself but there isn't photo albums. You can join groups that are related to your field.

eacerna · October 2009

I also like to keep my personal and professional lives separate..not that i have anything to hide. I work with a team of 11 and i know half of them are on FB but none of them are my FB friends. I don't want to and i like to keep it that way. I've "blocked" some of them so they can't find me Stick out tongue

. The girl who i work closely with and sit close to me know i have FB. I know she has one too and we talk about FB stuff but none of us have requested each other to be FB friends. One option for you is to add them but limit their access to your profile so they don't see anything on your wall or any of your personal photos.

MrsNJSwimmer · October 2009

I know people who have done that for their work. They say it works a lot better than having to filter their normal page.

PugRolls · October 2009

redshoegirl:

inamra:
Yeah, I would say it might be best to have another account if you don't want to ignore their friend requests. Either that or you can just ignore their friend requests like you've been doing and leave it at that.

I agree with this. Really, it depends on what you want to do. Do you want to be FB friends with them? Then I'd make a second account. But if you don't - if you think it would be a PITA to keep up with, or pointless, or just plain don't want to do it - then I'd just politely tell them that I prefer to keep it to just non-work friends and family. A few might feel snubbed, but really, FB is not necessarily for colleagues, you know? I do have 4 coworkers as friends on my account, but they're all people I would see socially outside of work as well - I'd never add someone to my friend list that I didn't actually consider a friend.

Thanks for these thoughts. I forgot that you can actually block someone from being able to find you! I do think that I would like to have a "professional" account, but was worried about people from work looking me up and seeing I have two profiles; I can just block all of them from my personal account, but send friend requests from my work account! I probably won't update my work account nearly as much as I do my personal one, but that's OK. It will be nice to feel like I'm participating in my work's social media culture.

husky422 · October 2009

why don't you just create a list and they have restricted access to your profile...can't see status updates, wall posts and you can restrict certain pics as well. that way you don't have to keep up with 2 accounts.

WWYD: New Facebook or No?

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