by Olivia Gregory

Created on: February 27, 2010   Last Updated: March 18, 2010

When reading the Facebook profiles of friends, deciding whether or not to comment on something can feel overwhelming. You can evaluate the postings of others according to whether you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. Here are some tips on how to decide when to comment or like something on Facebook:

* Strongly agree

If someone posts a status that you strongly agree with, it is likely that you will want to indicate that you like it and probably also write a comment expressing your agreement. Depending on the tone of the status, this can communicate encouragement, support, or humor to your friend. For example, when a friend posts a status stating “This weather is driving me crazy!” you can push the like button in addition to stating your own annoyance with being cooped up inside.

* Agree

When someone posts something that you agree with or like, you might be less likely to add a comment. Although there are many things you could say, you will probably reserve your comments for those things you strongly agree with. An exception to this might be when a friend posts new pictures of the family with a caption saying how much the kids have grown; you could add a comment saying “Can't believe how much they have changed since our last visit!” This would be entirely appropriate, and your friend will appreciate you noticing the new pictures.

* Disagree

There is no “unlike” button on Facebook, so if you disagree with something, you have two options: ignoring it completely or making a comment stating your disagreement. Most of the time you will probably opt to ignore rather than comment in order not to rock the boat. For instance, if one of your friends makes a comment about global warming that you disagree with, you probably are not going to comment unless you are very passionate about this particular subject and instead allow your friend to express his or her opinion freely.

* Strongly Disagree

If you see something on Facebook that you strongly disagree with, you are very likely to comment to show your disagreement. Many people on Facebook join groups to express their strong disagreement over changes to the user interface. Joining a group like this can be a way of expressing strong disagreement. If a friend posts either a status or a picture that you feel offended by, you have the option of commenting for all to see, and you also have the option of sending that friend a private message stating your concerns and disagreement.

Wherever you fall on the spectrum, keep in mind that the whole purpose for being able to express opinions on Facebook is simply to have fun and connect with other people in a unique way. Have fun with it and enjoy the interaction with your friends!

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