Facebook has become a part of our offline reality.

I remember starting on Facebook in August 2006, simply to keep in touch with my West Coast friends, thinking it would never really catch on. It was a network that was college-based and professional, but since then Facebook has evolved into something much more complicated. I have a love/hate relationship with it.

For its original purposes, like keeping in touch with friends, expressing individuality, sharing pictures or notifying friends of events, Facebook is fantastic. You can create and identify yourself with a profile, and what you put out is what is seen. Facebook is an alternative world, and a profile is a person’s means of access.

But ripples in the digital universe of Facebook can cause splashes in an individual’s life. Be mindful of what you’re putting out there. If you wouldn’t want people in real life to know or see something, don’t let people see it on the Internet. Remember your future employers will “creep” you, so it’s in your best interest to privatize most of your profile. This way you are given the ultimate control over who sees what.

However, with each new version of Facebook, there is less privacy control and an increasingly stalker-friendly atmosphere. Still, there are several ways to overcome the pitfalls of Facebook.

1. News Feed: Remember your actions will be a part of someone else’s news feed, so act with care. What you write may not change the world, but if you and your boyfriend decide to have a long-winded conversation or argument via your wall, beware. This is entertaining for your invisible digital audience, but embarrassing for you. Stick with phone calls, texting or instant messaging.

2. Profile Pictures: Oh my gawd, how cool, you’re so scandalous. What an original picture, playing beer pong, keg stand in the background, just like every other college student. I’ve got nothing against a little boozin’, but if you’re underage, I don’t advise you to make photo evidence of your illegal activities readily available. It’s pretty simple. Please don’t go skankspace on us, either.

3. Friending: For some people, being a Facebook friend is different then being an actual friend, but there should be limits. If you aren’t acquaintances with someone, you shouldn’t friend them; save yourself from awkwardness of online rejection.

4. Facebook Statuses: Most people don’t care for a complete list of your day’s events. Everyone has a Facebook friend or two that updates a little too frequently, and it’s usually strange and creepy. Also, stay away from passive-aggressive emo and keep it light-hearted. That means no lyrics, please.

5. Facebook Chat: Call me old school but I just find it creepy. Only use it for very special circumstances.

Ugh, even while writing this, I’ve been distracted by my incessant need to go check Facebook. Needless to say, online social networks, especially Facebook, are complicated.