Like just about everybody else I know, I am now a Facebook addict. I originally signed on as a way to promote myself as an author, but I was quickly reeled into the world of status updates, wall comments, and friend requests. I check Facebook as often as my email, and I’m always excited to make a new friend or get a message from an old high school classmate. As TMI’s release date approaches (less than three months to go–eek!), I am planning to notify everyone about it and invite them to signings.

For the most part, Facebook is a fascinating and useful tool for a new author trying to make a name for herself. I must also admit that I enjoy seeing what people from my past are doing these days, looking at pictures of their kids, and sharing a few friendly messages. Still, Facebook can also create some awkward social situations that I would never experience outside of my computer screen.

1. Inexplicable rejection of friend requests
We went to high school together, and I definitely remember having a few conversations with you. I don’t recall any conflict between us. If I ran into you at the grocery store, I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t at least say hello. So why won’t you be my Facebook friend? It’s not like I’m expecting you to invite me over for dinner. I was just curious about where you work and if you have any kids. Your rejection leads me to speculate that either you don’t remember who I am, or you are so ashamed of what you’ve become that you don’t want me to know. Or you always secretly hated me, in which case there’s not much I can do about that now.

2. Finding out about parties I wasn’t invited to
I’ve seen a few of these pop up on my Facebook news feed. Wall comments written by former coworkers: “Your barbecue was a blast! Thanks so much for inviting me!” While I’m glad that everyone had such a great time, it stings a little to be left out. Then I start to wonder if Facebook isn’t slowly chipping away at my already delicate self-esteem. And I resolve to never invite those people to any of my future parties. That’ll show them. Maybe as an added bonus, I’ll write on their walls about how much fun I had without them. Or not.

3. Getting hot gossip from status updates
Although lots of people write mundane status updates (“Mary Anne is cleaning out the kitty litter box.” or “Cliff is never eating bean burritos for lunch two days in a row again.”), they also use them to broadcast big news. I’m guilty of this myself; after my baby was born, my status update was, “Sarah has a daughter.” Still, it can be quite unsettling to find out that one of my friends was laid off, got pregnant, or broke up with his girlfriend through these updates. On the bright side, I might not have found out about these things so quickly if it weren’t for Facebook, and I’m a girl who likes to be in the know about such matters.

4. Getting hot gossip by snooping around profiles
Okay, this really only happened once. I suddenly noticed that an acquaintance of mine was going by her maiden name again. And that her romantic status said she was “In a relationship.” And that her husband was notably absent from her photo albums. I sent a friend request out to her husband, and lo and behold, his romantic status said he was “Looking for a relationship,” and wifey was nowhere to be seen among his photos. Ay-yai-yai, I am dying to know why they split up, but neither of them is a close friend, and I don’t feel like I can send either of them a message saying, “Hey, I put two and two together from your Facebook profile and see that you’re getting a divorce. What happened?”

5. Too much information
It’s shocking what some people put out there. I’ve read wall posts about baby-making plans, medical procedures, and dirty jokes. If I have anything more than a standard “Hey! How ya been?” greeting or birthday wishes, I write a personal message or email. Not that those things can’t be forwarded, but at least they’re not out there for all the world to see right off the bat.

That’s all for now. I need to go log into Facebook.