I joined facebook because it’s the only way my children seem to communicate these days. And thus it’s the only way to keep up with their lives. I still am not a fan though. And I still have my privacy settings set to max. And I only have ‘friends’ who are family members, friends, or friendly acquaintances that I have vetted, in real life.
It’s no substitute for real people. Facebook friends don’t give you kleenex when you’re crying. Real friends do.