New - how do you add people?

No you don't - From these discussion pages, click on their photo/username then click on their username again on the box that pops up to view their profile. On there will be a button to "Add As Friend".

Alternatively you can use the "Find Members" function to search for a user and click through to their profile from there.

I've only been using the social bit for two weeks and haven't received any. People I've made friends with tend to stick to comments on news feed rather than messaging.

In the message boards there can be some spurious advice as is to be expected since it's peer-to-peer support. The spam/frivolous stuff is mostly kept to the Chit-Chat and Fun&Games boards so is generally fairly easily avoided.