<p>I get that this is not necessarily a Pitt-specific question, but my S is an incoming freshman, receiving a lot of emails lately from RAs and the like. Just about all of them refer him to a Facebook page for his class, his dorm, his hallway, whatever.</p>
<p>That's all well and good, but he doesn't have FB or Twitter and really isn't interested in starting them now. Is FB central to social life at Pitt, in terms of clubs posting meetups/info there and only there? Or can he stay connected and informed simply through email? </p>
<p>I think if not having FB would really put him at a disadvantage in this regard (missing meetings or events, for example), he would reluctantly sign up. I wonder too if his dorm mates will show up already "knowing" each other, though I suppose it could go the other way too and people might have preconceived notions of each other just based on a few pithy quotes and selfies?</p>
<p>Anyway---do you think he needs to join Facebook to stay in the know, or can he make it on his own? Thanks!</p>
<p>He could wait until he gets there to decide. It’s true that the dorm floor as well as student organizations will post events on facebook. My son’s floor had one person who was reluctant to join facebook but he eventually did.
You can join facebook without actively using it much. Just put the minimum of information about yourself and never post anything. You don’t even need to put any picture. He can just join the few relevant groups and get notifications sent to his regular email. Basically you can customize and put as much or as little on facebook as you want.</p>
<p>I agree with southeastmom. My son has a facebook page, rarely if ever posts but does use it for “groups”. I think it would be beneficial if he creates an account and joins the groups necessary to gather information from his RA and clubs he is interested in joining.</p>
<p>My daughter just graduated from Pitt and even four years ago, kids got a bit acquainted before going to school. I would set up a page just so I could take a look around at the pages that are being referenced. However, I agree with the others that it does not need to be used much, and I think once he arrives, the use of FB is minimal for some people. And it can be closed at any time.</p>
<p>Hey! I was a freshmen last year and had facebook the summer before and throughout most of the semester (I deactivated it around finals times). My roommate however did not have a facebook. Having me and other friends to let her know what was going on, I definitely wouldn’t say she missed out in the social world but she was always the last to know things. As long as he has texting, I don’t think it will be a huge issue. It was annoying however for my roommate and I that she didn’t have facebook over the summer for communicating and getting to know each other since we didn’t before. Still, besides messages and events I wouldn’t see a need.</p>