If you have been using Facebook for a while you already know that the arguments that some people use to reason why they are not taking part in it are just myths. Let’s have a look at them.

Myth No 1: Facebook is for people who want to produce themselves

We could say: Life is for people who want to produce themselves. Whether you look at life in general or Facebook as an example it is clear that you will always find people who are posing, showing off, and producing themselves. It totally depends on the person and who they are – Facebook doesn’t just allow ‘posers’ to sign up.

Myth No 2: Facebook is addictive

Again I would have to say: Just like any other thing or substance is potentially addictive, depending on the user! If you look at the amount of time that people spend on their computer, checking emails, browsing the net, or working, exercising, shopping… These are just examples in which we keep ourselves entertained or how we avoid certain feelings, for example boredom.

Myth No 3: Using Facebook makes you avoid social contact

There is no question that through Facebook it is much easier to stay in contact with old friends and family members all over the world and that it allows people to sit at their computer while chatting to their friends rather than meeting up in person. A Cambridge University study of Facebook however has found that Facebook is very useful to maintain relationships that might otherwise be lost. In addition they found that Facebook allows users to get to know their connections from a different point of view and gave them more avenues to interact.

Myth No 4: Facebook will start to charge their users

It would be to be expected that a service like Facebook would start charging its members sooner or later. According to a Business Week interview with Facebook COO Sandberg, Facebook is making money and is already profitable due to its advertising revenues. So if you have been put off by the targeted ads in the right column, think again. At this stage the company apparently has no plans to start charging for their services.

Myth No 5: People on Facebook are just looking for love, admiration or affection

The last time I checked that’s what most people are looking for in life in general so what’s different if we are achieving this through Facebook? On the contrary, I have found that many of my clients feel less socially excluded by being able to participate using social networking and find meaning in sharing in this way that today’s technology allows us.