United States
University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University
AARP
Virginia, Washington, Florida, Taiwan
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. -Mark Twain
IMGP0201.JPGHow Do "Friends" and "Groups" Work?
Here are some frequently asked questions concerning the new Friends and Groups features in the Online Community. If you do not find the answer to your specific question, please visit the Community Help group for additional information and support. We’re here to help. 
How do I invite someone to be my friend?
To add new friends, you can visit the “People” tab in the Online Community and search for users you know. When you click on someone’s profile, you’ll see an “Add to Friends” button under his or her profile picture. Click this button to add the person as a friend; he or she will then receive a notification that you’ve requested they be added as a friend. They may then approve or deny your request. Shortcut: Any time you see a user’s profile picture (next to the user’s comment or post, for example), you can click on it to be taken to that user’s profile page.
How do I remove someone from my friends list?
To remove someone from your friends list, click the "My Friends" link in the right column of your profile page to be taken to your complete list of friends. Check the box next to the people you’d like to remove. Then click “Remove” at the bottom of the list.
What, exactly, is the benefit of being a friend?
A "friend" status in the Online Community does indicate a friendship – but it also plays an important role in your profile settings. For example, when you have a photo/video/journal, you can select a “family and friends” setting so that only the users you’ve designated as “friends” can view it. So it does pay to be discerning with your friends network.
Do I have to be someone’s friend in order to interact with them online?
Nope. You can engage with other users without having to be their friend. If you and another user join the same group, you can carry on a discussion together within that group. You can comment on another user’s photo, video, or journal without being their friend. You can also send a user a message by clicking on the “Send a Message” button under his/her profile picture.
I see discussions going on within different groups. How do I participate?
You must join a group in order to participate. You can click on the “Groups” tab in the Online Community navigation bar to see what topics have been started. When you see one that interests you, click into that group’s profile page and click the “Join This Group” button under the group’s profile picture. Once you’ve joined, you can create new topics of conversation, post replies to current topics being discussed, and upload any photos/videos/journals you’d like to share with the group.
Hi HTee,
I don' t think we can contact someone on your behalf given the privacy rules here, but is there any way you could post an invitation to them on the Prospero message boards? And I'm pretty sure you can send the person a private message on the Prospero message boards as well. All he/she needs to do is visit www.aarp.org and click the "Sign Up" button in the top right-hand corner of the screen to begin the registration process. If he/she runs into bumps, simply email community@aarp.org. We'd love to have him or her join us!
And great question about the flag -- it's the same as the "report violation" exclamation point from the Prospero message boards. If you see something that violates our Terms of Service (advertising, inappropriate language, etc.), simply click the red flag to report it to our moderation team. Thanks!
My question deals with inviting someone to be a member of this site? I have read the above directions but in trying to do so, I do not know the person's given name, only the user name from old Prosper site. Would you be able to send them an invitation to join this site?
Also, I have probably missed the explanation given for the "flag" symbol. I notice there is a flag below each of the previous comments. Just trying to get educated about this site.
HTee
You cannot delete a group. But if you would rather it not show up in the Groups index, you can change its privacy setting to "invitation-only." Click on the "Edit Group Settings" button underneath your Group profile image, and you'll find the privacy settings at the bottom. Then click the blue "Save Changes" button.
Is there any way to DELETE a group that you have created?
HiAmy,
Thank you your Journal entry today is most helpful. Have a good evening and talk to you soon! Shelby
