10 Common Types of Facebook Updates

It should come as no surprise to know that the winning strength of any social networking site is the ability to share news about ourselves with our circle of friends. These include the most common activities that Facebookers engage in, ranging from posting photos, commenting on friends’ posts, and perhaps most fundamentally, updating statuses.

The posting of statuses is the most basic kind of sharing because it only requires the use of words to express ourselves, our thoughts, and opinions.

I’m sure you’ve come across various types of Facebook status updates and might have realized that they can be categorized into different genres. If you’ve been observant, you would see that some of your friends tend to post a similar kind of post.

This is probably what makes social networking sites so interesting and addictive; we get to infer a person’s character and personality from their posts and even learn to appreciate the individual differences in perspectives.

Ever wonder what type of Facebooker you are? Here are ten of the most common I’ve come across:

Recommended Reading: Essential Facebook Etiquette: 10 Dos And Don’ts

1. The Announcers

These Facebookers seem to treat their Facebook wall as someone to report their status to. From the moment they wake to the moment they lay back in the warmth of their beds at the end of the day, you can see that they broadcast to the network what they’re up to at any given moment.

Not everyone on the list will want to know what you’re doing now, so it may be just a matter of time before they block you from their newsfeed. I suppose it’s best to keep that to a minimum or it’ll just be noise to others.

2. The Status Reporters

These Facebookers seem to treat their Facebook wall as someone to report their status to. From the moment they wake to the moment they lay back in the warmth of their beds at the end of the day, you can see that they broadcast to the network what they’re up to at any given moment.

Not everyone in the list will want to know what you’re doing now, so it may be just a matter of time before they block you from their newsfeed. I suppose it’s best to keep that to a minimal or it’ll just be noise to others.

3. The Bloggers

It used to be the case that status updates were limited to 160 characters. Then the limit was increased to 420, 500, and even 5,000 characters. As of November 2011, the limit is a whopping 60,000! Now, people can post their entire blog entry as their status updates, and this is exactly what bloggers (in the context of Facebook users) do. They simply tell everyone about how their day went and go on and on, sometimes without realizing that not many will be fascinated by the nitty-gritty details. Due to the broadcasting nature of status updates, people within their network have no choice but to see them on their newsfeed, unless they block them, which they probably will if it borders on being annoying.

4. The Braggarts & Show-offs

Have you ever tried to boast about your accomplishments while keeping it modest to others? It can be quite an art. Yet, when done properly, others will find you less annoying than someone who can’t seem to stay humble with their words. It’s the same with Facebook users; if they wish to advertise themselves every now and then, they must do it subtly, lest they get labeled as braggarts and show-offs.

I’m all for people being proud of their achievements in life and wanting to share them with the rest of the world. But when it comes to telling everyone, every time, that you’re great in so many different aspects, you create a reputation – a bad one, for yourself. That’s how it is with braggarts and show-offs and their self-promoting tendencies. Many of their status updates center around what they’re good at (imaginary or real, it doesn’t matter).

My advice is this: Keep it subtle and don’t overdo it.

5. The Quoters & ‘Lyricists’

Quoters repeat the words of famous individuals, while “Lyricists” quote song lyrics in their status updates. In both circumstances, the updates aren’t exactly their own words.

Nevertheless, when they include the words of others in their updates, it usually relates to their circumstances or at least their thoughts. Sometimes, such updates serve as puzzles to some, requiring their imaginative interpretation to understand what is really meant by the update.

6. The Philosophers

Philosophers are similar to Quoters and Lyricists in that they often create an aura of mystery with their statuses. The major difference is that they don’t simply copy and paste someone else’s words; they create their own quotes. These Facebookers tend to be an introspective bunch who like to reflect on their lives and come up with something abstract yet conclusive from their musings.

I must say I like their status updates because they sound genuine. In fact, I myself tend to fall under this category. From time to time, such posts make a lot of sense to me because they relate to life as a whole. I can’t say the same for others; some may find such posts irritating as they don’t like to be preached at.

7. The Complaint Kings & Queens

There is a lot of negative energy coming from this kind of Facebook users because their status updates revolve around what is wrong in their lives. Their status updates tend to encourage others to complain about the same things that they are complaining about, be it the government or the traffic. Some of these rants can get pretty vulgar in an attempt to draw attention from others.

When a particular Facebook user is a chronic complainer, his or her friends may soon realize this fact and stop supporting their ’causes’. It gets to the point that they think the user is only complaining for the sake of complaining, so they stop commenting or ‘liking’ the angry statuses. Generally speaking, people don’t go to Facebook to get worked up over life’s stressors, so it’s just a matter of time before these Complaint Kings and Queens get isolated.

8. The EMOs or Self-Pitiers

These are yet another group of Facebookers who thrive on negative energy. Similar to Complaint Kings & Queens, they believe that the world is against them. However, they take a more defensive stance, seeking sympathy from their friends on the network to side with them.

Of course, I’m not saying that all Facebookers who post negative status updates are people who desperately want others to pity them. Even if they do, it’s perfectly fine to seek some comfort and assurance from our dearest friends from time to time. I guess the same principle applies: what annoys Facebookers is the chronic posting of such negative updates, which I had mentioned earlier, as it’s not what people log in to Facebook to see.

9. The Puzzlers

Posts by Puzzlers tend to be very ambiguous and can be interpreted in many different ways. Sometimes the intention is to subtly get back at someone, while at other times, the update is just a reflection of what’s on their mind at the moment. As you can see from the example above, it can sound a little psychotic.

I suppose Facebookers who do this get a kick from the variety of feedback they may receive as a result of their updates. After all, such updates tend to draw much attention from curious friends within their network. However, when done too frequently, some of these friends may get tired of it and stop commenting altogether.

10. The Comedians

Perhaps the most likable kind of updates come from the Comedians. After all, most people log in to Facebook to be entertained in a lighthearted manner. Many of us don’t want to hear about others feeling sorry for themselves or preaching philosophy to us. Humorous status updates seem more appealing because we just want a break from our daily stresses.

A lighthearted approach to life is perhaps the best philosophy for some. I think that when it comes to Facebook, people log in to temporarily escape from something, be it a boring and mundane task or a particularly stressful day.

When we see humor on our newsfeed, it puts our life into perspective. After maybe half an hour of aimless surfing on Facebook (provided we don’t get addicted to it!), we can be back in the right mood to handle what we were dealing with before.