How YOU Can Change the World Using Facebook

You can change the world. Skeptical? Right away the reasons why this is a false statement fills your mind:

• I’m too old.
• I have no skills.
• No one would listen to me.
• I don’t have time.

Not many people realize they have the ability to change the world. This is a true statement. And I‘m about to show you how to do it.

Let me ask you this question: are you ever on Facebook? If the answer is “no” it’s simple to obtain your own free account. If the answer is “yes” then you have the only tool you need to change your world.

Facebook is the new gathering spot for 1.7 billion people around the world. Read that again. There are 1.7 billion people with an active Facebook account. If you want to change the world, all you need is a Facebook account.

If you are active on Facebook, you see a lot of bad and depressing behavior.

• People continually post news links as facts which aren’t true.
• Political fighting, especially during an election year, is bitter and ugly.
• Religious debates flare up and redefine the phrase “holy war.”
• The shaming of others is rampant.
• Bullies have found a new playpen and trolls have a new bridge under which to hide.

This is why Facebook needs you and presents itself as your opportunity to change the world.

Several months ago a stranger made a comment to one of my Facebook threads. He demonstrated a high level of anger towards Christians. His language and comments were of nuclear proportions. I reached out to him privately. We became friends. He told me he was gay and suffered from AIDS. After affirming my love and acceptance to him he said it was a new experience to encounter a Christian who wasn’t hateful and judgmental. Not long after that, he made a comment on one of my posts. Several of my friends attacked, wounded, and now he has disappeared from my Facebook feed.

YOU have the power to change the world. YOU can bring hope to the hopeless and courage to the discouraged. YOU can spread love in a hate-filled world.

YOU can change the world one person at a time. And YOU can do this without any special skills, talents, or ability. All you need is a Facebook account.

Here’s how you can change the world using Facebook.

1. Get More Friends.

If you want to change the world you will want to expand your world. It’s easy to add friends. But send out friend requests because you really want to be their friend. Take this opportunity to reconnect with old high school and college friends. Do a little online digging and find your close friends from across the years. The more friends you have the greater potential impact you will have as you try to change the world.

2. Join More Facebook Groups in Your Area of Interest.

Seek out and join Facebook groups in your area of interest. Again, the idea is to expand your world. Keep your motives pure. I’m not encouraging anyone to become a spam machine. But as you join and interact in Facebook groups you will automatically make more friends. And when the right time comes you can use your influence in the group to change the world.

3. Stick to proper Facebook etiquette.

Here’s a few of the unwritten rules on proper Facebook behavior:

• Don’t be a bully or an obnoxious know it all. There’s already millions of those on Facebook.
• Remember that you cannot tell the tone of voice in the comments by looking at the words. As you read replies to your posts and comments assume the best from those who write.
• Don’t hijack a thread. It’s bad manners to go to a thread and make an off topic comment to further your own agenda.
• Never forget: you might be wrong!

4. Respond to Threads with Caution.

Before wading into a discussion be certain to read the entire thread. Too many people jump into the middle of a debate and don’t take time to check out the context. And if you are posting in a Facebook group please check out the posting rules of the group. These are usually located to the top right of the group page.

5. Start Posts Which Can Be of Benefit to Others.

Aren’t you tired of the posts which command you to take action? (“If you REALLY love Jesus type ‘AMEN’ and share.”) Are you annoyed by the posts designed to show the world the intelligence original poster? Even more annoying are those who posts which are thinly disguised as bombs. Nope. Please don’t do that. You are trying to change the world. Start posts which will be helpful, not hurtful.

6. Be genuine.

The online world is an easy place to pretend to be something you aren’t. You can represent yourself as anything and anyone on the internet. Posturing seems to be part of the internet community. And even if we use our real it’s often tempting to make ourselves look smarter than we are. If you want to change the world be genuine. If you aren’t certain of something, admit it. If you missed up, ask for forgiveness. You cannot change the world by being arrogant, adamant, or angry.

7. Be an active contributor and not a silent lurker.

You cannot change the world by being a silent lurker. Reading the opinions of others will not make a dent in this world. You must become an active contributor to the conversation. This is where the victory is found. Let the world know that there is hope. Demonstrate, through your kind and loving comments, that there are good people in this world.

Here’s an infographic I found on Pinterest (from www.wearesocialmedia.gr) which gives you additional help when it comes to posting on Facebook so you can change the world:

Have you ever used the power of Facebook to change your world?