Important rules to keep
Researchers at Arizona State University used focus groups and undergraduate student surveys to come up with a top 10 list of the most important rules for keeping your Facebook friends — and for ensuring that missteps on the social networking site don't make you enemies in real life. The study was published on line in April of 2012 in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
Rules may differ for older users, but college students listed their dos and don'ts as follows:
Expect a response
Users most strongly agreed that reciprocity matters. If someone posts on your Facebook wall, you're expected to respond.
No disrespect
Posting disrepectful content about a Facebook friend is considered bad form.
Think before you post
It's important to consider the negative impact a post could have on a friend before making the post.
Don't repost
If a friend deletes a wall post or tag that you made, it's considered impolite to repost that content.
Don't be a stranger
Facebook isn't seen as a replacement for face-to-face interaction. Real friends should be contacted through other means beside the site, users agreed.
Be honest
It's considered polite to present yourself honestly but positively to Facebook friends.
Don't be an addict
Facebooking so much that it interferes with work is a big no-no.
Protect yourself
No posting information that a friend or acquaintance could later use against you.
Think, again
Many users say they apply a "common sense" rule in their interactions with Facebook friends.
It's all about jobs
Consider how a post would look to a friend's employer or potential employer before putting it on his or her wall.
