Social Networking

FACEBOOK

The web definition of facebook is stated to be of a social networking site. On the facebook site it stated that the purpose is, "Giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected." In other words Facebook is to providing the ability to anyone who wishes to sign up for free to stay connected with family and friends around the world. Facebook accomplishes this task by one creating a profile and searching for certain individuals. The facebook team tried to make the task of finding and adding people you may already know easier by providing one the option of using already known emails to find others on facebook.

Facebook is similiar to that of being in a large crowd and overhearing everyone. The difference is you can find out and "eves drop" on virtually anyone you desire. Facebook allows the user to search and read conversations between individuals even if it is not your conversation. Also any picture posted by either you or a friend can be seen by your friends and theirs. Facebook does offer small entertainment time wasters such as quizes, games and surveys.

Many who use facebook fall into a few realms. Business: Many business individuals use this site to stay in contact with other business partners who may be on a business trip or stay in contact with clients. Students: Many students use this site to chat with other friends who may go to a different college, or moved to a new place. Stalkers: As odd as it may seem, there are many predators out there who try to conceeal there identity and portray a fake alias. There are many others who join facebook for other reasons as well.

Facebook is a love hate relationship because at times it helps and at times it hinders. It helps in the sense that it keeps people in contact from afar. It hinders in the sense that many people can read what you are doing or having conversations with other people. For instance, I read an article that a wife found out her husband was divorcing her because he was discussing it with a friend. She found out before he divorced her.

Overall facebook could be a pain, but it does offer more benefits than negatives but the sole descision is upon the user. Personally the argument I use is that it has an exceptional way of staying connected and providing the ability to chat with friends from around the world. Comparing to other "social networks" I do beleive this is the best one. It allows one to find many people and have multiple conversations at the same time. It is a multitaskers dream built into one site. One could check pictures of one friend while chatting to two differnent other friends.

On the issue of privacy, it becomes dicey. Having the option of peeping into other peoples conversations seems like a shady thing to do but people do it. The main idea to remember is be smart about what you say, post, and put pictures up of. Facebook allows for not much restrictions. One downfall of facebook is the current arguement on our own rights of pictures, comments, etc because facebook is arguing that despite cancelling subscritption to facebook they have the right to keep anything one says and posts.