How Important Is Your Facebook Status?

Without over 800 million users updating their Facebook statuses regularly, it is interesting to know what really is behind the status update.

The status update is simply a way to share anything, be it a thought, or an idea or expression that you may have. The update feature allows users to share information with others. Status updates are posted on the wall of the user, while they are also distributed to the feeds of your friends.

The Facebook status is one of the key interactive features on the social networking giant site. It not only allows users to receive current information about the activities of your friends, but the information can be shared with everyone else.

The status update may appear to a time-wasting activity, that is nothing more than a banal pastime, but a closer look, will show that there much more to it.

The 5000 friends that you have, may not all be interested in what you had for breakfast,but if you had french toast, the french-toast lovers would be interested, and soon you you would be sharing tips and recipes for making better french toast, or where to get the best french toast in Florida.

There are many more features that can be developed from the simple act of sharing.

The interactive nature of many of the features, provide easy opportunities for your friends to interact and share their thoughts and feelings about what you have posted. Updates can be posted through a variety of methods, that include text messaging from mobiles or desktops, or from smart-phones and tablets.

Some users have been known to spend hours updating their status, some up to over 50 times daily, but it is largely up to the users to determine what is, and is not acceptable. Within the 18 to 34 yr. demographic, a relatively large number, indicate that logging to their Facebook account to update the status, is often the last thing done at night, and the first thing done in the morning. The amount of time spent updating your status is more likely to be determined by the purpose of the update.

With a free service, there is likely to be some overuse and or abuse. Recent reports indicate that Americans spend collectively more than one hundred thousand years, each month on Facebook. This number, if correct, is staggering, but there are activities, other than updates, that account for consuming an incredible amount of time.

A seemingly justifiable question, is whether we have become more efficient, or added more value, when such a large amount of time is spent in one particular situation.

The obvious benefit, is that is now much easier to share information. Updates can be used to compliment, or replace other communication methods such email. This is perhaps the basis, and one of the important benefits gained from social networking, and sharing can contribute to a more cooperative environment.