AMY FRANCIS – KING OF THE WILD FRONTIER

A Mr. Richard Fader from New Jersey writes:

“Dear Amy,

How do I block those annoying messages from the games my friends play on Facebook?  Specifically, Farmville, Mafia Wars and Frontierville?  I don’t play computer games, I certainly have no interest in a blow-by-blow description of my friend’s wasting their time and energy and… MONEY on those games.  Help!”

Well, Mr. Fader, you’re not alone.  I can’t tell you the number of emails I get on a daily basis about those messages from frustrated Facebook users like yourself.  I totally agree that seeing messages like “Janie found a lamb, help her find two more…”  or “Gary just laid an egg, build him a nest…” are inane and maddening.  But, such is life here in the land of Web 2.0.  With the advent of social networking, suddenly you’re getting spam, not only from someone you know but from an agent (the application) working on your “friend’s behalf”!  Add to that Facebook’s ever morphing interface and it’s the perfect storm for frustration, fear and loathing…   Had enough?

Okay, here’s how to hide those pesky application messages from your Facebook friends without blocking your friend:

From your HOME page, run your cursor over the upper right hand side of the offending message until the X appears.

Click on that X

You will then be given the options to either “Hide” friend, “Hide Farmville” , “Mark as Spam” or “Cancel”.

Click on “Hide Farmville” or (which ever application’s message you are trying to eliminate)

And Voilá!

Good Luck!