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| jjdaman20 | Exercise 1 | Jerran's Excerise 1 Response | 1 | Jun 8 2009, 6:45 PM EDT by jjdaman20 | ||||
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Thread started: Jun 8 2009, 6:44 PM EDT
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I read articles in the section “Sports Nut” since I am a big sports enthusiast. The style of the writer seems to be one of either direct connection or a narrative style.
Citing lack of support from the household the writer says “Unfortunately for the USTA, national organizations with comprehensive mission statements don't produce tennis champions. Crazy tennis parents do.” As sports go, there are those crazy parents and I can agree with the writer. The writer next starts out the paragraph with “Consider the Williams sisters. As the story goes, their father, Richard, upon learning of the lucre that women's tennis offered, decided to make his next two kids into tennis pros.” Connecting one point to another helps this writer’s narrative style and keep the reader interested. The style allows me to browse because it keeps giving scenarios where parents have overtaken their children’s lives in order to make them millionaires and champions in sports. The article takes an unexpected turn but it still keeps me reading closely when the writer says “sociopathy—the utter lack of a conscience…happens to be really useful on court.” I like when writers touch into the psychology of sports simply because a fan or an outsider to a sport does not know the ins and outs of training, competing, and winning on a consistent basis. Because simply put, “Great players reduce their opponents to targets that must be eliminated.” It sparks an emotional response because I have been involved in sports all the way until I attended college. So it makes sense to me and I want to speak out to defend the writer’s words. The Slate prose, despite the ads and such that overlap them, is something I definitely like to read on the screen. When something is on the screen that appeals to me, I can read the pieces and stay interested, especially when it talks about sports.
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| britty76 | Brittany Beerse | Profiles | 0 | May 27 2009, 1:52 PM EDT by britty76 | ||||
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Thread started: May 27 2009, 1:52 PM EDT
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Hi my name is Brittany, and I'm an English major here at Tech. I just walked at graduation, but have two courses to finish up before I can actually go out into the real world. I am taking this course for two reasons. One, to fulfill a requirement, and secondly, to learn about web design. Following completion of my summer school courses I hope to work for a marketing/PR company around Roanoke. The only problem with this goal is all of the places I have applied are looking for an individual with web design experience, so I am hoping to learn a lot from this course on web design seeing as currently I know next to nothing.
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| TeddiJ | Employment and Admissions | Part 2 Synthesis Article | 0 | Nov 18 2008, 6:45 PM EST by TeddiJ | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 18 2008, 6:45 PM EST
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Recently, numerours employers and university admission offices have performed background checks through Facebook. Students may be helped or hurt by the content on their Facebook profile.
Employers look at groups students may be in, pictures that suggest controversial conduct, and wall posts of the student's profiles. Some students feel that they can no longer be themselves on the Facebook. Facebook is turning into a new form of spyware for employers and admission offices. Facebook is a public networking site, therefore the material people post on their profile page is available to anyone. Many universities are now intensively using Facebook as part of their admission process. Some universities around the country have stated that students with inappropriate material on their pages will not be admitted. Colleges and universities may be trying to limit the amount of underage drinking within their own institution. When prospective high school students post photos of underage drinking with their friends, they will likely do it in college too. Employers are trying to gain insight on a student’s personal character through photo posts. If a student has a compromising photo, an employer is likely not to hire that applicant. Using Facebook profile information has become a controversial topic. Students believe their information is private and only their friends should have access to their profile. Employers and admission offices believe profile information provides valuable personal character information. However it is possible for students to adjust their profile privacy settings to some extent. All employers and universities do not conduct Facebook background checks, but people using Facebook need to be aware of what they post on their profile page because it might cause them harm in the long run.
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| jcrowder | Interest Groups | Part 2 Synthesis Article | 0 | Nov 18 2008, 5:27 PM EST by jcrowder | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 18 2008, 5:27 PM EST
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One of the most commonly used features on Facebook is the “Group” feature. These groups can be interest or non-interest based and can be formed for any number of events. This feature is an extremely popular one for students on college campuses. When a person forms a group he or she must categorize what kind of group that it is. The categories include multiple types of common interest groups, organizations, sports and recreations, entertainment and the arts, and just for fun. Students can create groups that might advertise an event being held on campus, such as Relay for Life, or one that simply raises awareness for a cause, such as Students Against Driving Drunk. Some groups formed are simply common interest groups, for example, students who watch a particular show. Each group’s Facebook page displays the same basic information. On the page the group’s name, type, description, website, office, and location are stated. There is a section dedicated to recent news where the group can post any new information regarding the group. There is a section that displays all of the members of the group. |
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| jcrowder | A New Way to Communicate (Previously New Popularity) | Part 2 Synthesis Article | 0 | Nov 18 2008, 5:26 PM EST by jcrowder | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 18 2008, 5:26 PM EST
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Currently, Facebook is used by 85% of college students and can be considered by far one of the biggest hotspots on the World Wide Web for young people. Also, more people of the older generations are signing up for Facebook accounts. Facebook is a relatively new way for people, young and old, to communicate with each other and express themselves. Recently, Facebook has become a very popular way for people around the world to reconnect with old friends. The most common reconnection is among old college friends, but that is not the only kind. Because Facebook has become popular among all age groups, it is also a way for members of families to connect with each other. Through Facebook, people can communicate many different ways. The most popular ways of communicating are by “posting” a message on another person’s wall or sending them a message. A user can communicate in a less direct way by using the “poke” ability. This is just a way that a user can let another user know that he or she is thinking about the other person. |
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| JCoach | Popularity | Part 2 Synthesis Article | 0 | Nov 16 2008, 10:40 AM EST by JCoach | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 16 2008, 10:40 AM EST
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Popularity
To understand why Facebook is so popular, one must first look at the services it provides, as well as the features that make it such a unique website. Facebook lets user’s post personal information of their choice. This information pertains mainly to interests of the use. Some examples of the categories Facebook provides about members: Activities, favorite music/television/books, contact information. In addition, it is a way to meet people, and stay in touch with friends that have moved away to college. Included on the website is a system which allows users to send personal messages to each other, much like modern day pen-pals. There’s also an application that allows you to chat with other’s that are on Facebook at the same time as you. The event application allows Facebook users to see what kinds of events (music shows, parties, etc.) are occurring locally. Aside from this, there are even game and music applications, leaving even more space for personal expression.
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| JCoach | What is Facebook? | Part 2 Synthesis Article | 0 | Nov 16 2008, 10:39 AM EST by JCoach | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 16 2008, 10:39 AM EST
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What is Facebook?
In the most basic of terms, Facebook is a social networking site that allows users to access content created by other users and to create and share their own content. The complexity of the explanation occurs when addressing the various features and uses that have been evolved over time. In addition to simply linking themselves to one another via who their friends are, users are able to interact through applications and groups, and forum-type discussions that result from the two. Since all of the content is user-created, it empowers users to dictate the types of content that are available, and to create new types of content. In theory, in addition to simply informing other members about oneself, users could also be able to influence other members. Facebook provides a number of mediums for interacting with users: both individual users and larger quantities of users. The scope of Facebook members has grown from those in particular colleges, to simply those that meet an age requirement. The context of Facebook is that of learning and exploring, and thus users will be receptive to any sort of general-audience content that is created. There are limitations to what Facebook can do, but there are also a number of opportunities for organizations to reach out to college-aged individuals. |
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| JCoach | Evolution | Part 2 Synthesis Article | 0 | Nov 16 2008, 10:38 AM EST by JCoach | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 16 2008, 10:38 AM EST
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Evolution
When Mark Zuckerberg founded this website it was only available to students at an Ivy League school in the northeastern United States, Harvard University. As its popularity increased, access to the network was expanded to include students at other Ivy League schools. The number of people belonging to the Facebook network was relatively small, that is until it was opened up to students at every university. The number of Facebook users increased immensely when it was made available to any university student. People with a valid university email address could join the social networking website. Soon every college student had a Facebook account. Having a Facebook account became the college student norm. The demographics of Facebook users grew quickly after it was opened up to any university student. From university students, it expanded to allow high school students to create an account. Eventually anyone over the age of 13 with a valid email address gained the privilege to obtain a Facebook account. Members of this virtual social network range from students, parents, adults, and employers. |
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| JCoach | Background | Part 2 Synthesis Article | 1 | Nov 16 2008, 10:37 AM EST by JCoach | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 16 2008, 10:35 AM EST
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Background
Facebook is a social networking website created by Mark Zuckerberg, while he was a student attending Harvard University. Zuckerberg originally limited profile access to just Harvard students. He then expanded Facebook to other universities, and then to high school students. Now it is essentially open to everyone above the age 13. Zuckerberg believed that opening Facebook to everyone was the best step, and it would increase business because the websites main source of funding is through investments. Facebook is valued at over eight billion dollars, and has become quite the commodity. It is a great way to network oneself through an online profile, and connect with friends virtually all over the world. However, it has caused some major problems, and has been banned from many schools and work places in order to increase productivity. There are issues with people who do not understand Facebook. Parents seem to have the most questions and concerns about Facebook, since it is their children who are the driving force of its popularity. There is concern about who people are contacting online, and if these people are being honest. However, there are a number of ways to monitor who can see their profile, and who their online friends are. To understand Facebook more thoroughly, it is important to know the basics and features, the level of popularity, and information on privacy.
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| elizdown | Some Common Features and Terms of Facebook | Group 1 Facebook Article | 0 | Oct 20 2008, 10:50 PM EDT by elizdown | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2008, 10:50 PM EDT
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A Facebook profile consists of a few different features. When a student logs into the site, they see the news feed, which updates the student on their friends' recent activities. Their profile has a "wall," where people can leave messages (these messages, or "wall posts," are available for all of Facebook to see, depending on the student's privacy features), a picture of the student, various information, like relationship status, sexuality, favorite movies and books, and a link to photos of the student that have been tagged. This means someone has posted photos on the site and marked the student as in it. People can then view all the photos on Facebook of a certain person. Users of Facebook also add applications to their profile, which can represent their unique interests and habits. A popular application is the bumper sticker application, where friends can choose from thousands of stickers to send their friends, but other applications include things like "which movie character are you" and countdowns to a wedding, etc.
Some of the terminology associated with Facebook has made its way into mainstream conversation among young adults, the most prevalent users of the site. A teacher may hear a student talk about "friending" someone on Facebook, which simply means asking them to become your friend on the site, allowing them access to your profile, pictures, and wall. A teacher might also hear the term "facebook stalking," which simply means poring over someone's profile to find out their relationship status, what people have written about them, their hobbies, etc. This is often a popular way for students to find information about each other, but it can often lead to misinterpretations about a person's true character. |
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| jcrowder | The Evolution of Facebook Users | Group 1 Facebook Article | 0 | Oct 20 2008, 10:23 PM EDT by jcrowder | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2008, 10:23 PM EDT
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Facebook has not always been an application available to 100 million people. This social networking website has gone through numerous stages of availability.
When Mark Zuckerberg founded this website it was only available to students at an Ivy League school in the northeastern United States, Harvard University. As its popularity increased, access to the network was expanded to include students at other Ivy League schools. The number of people belonging to the Facebook network was relatively small, that is until it was opened up to students at every university. The number of Facebook users increased immensely when it was made available to any university student. People with a valid university email address could join the social networking website. Soon every college student had a Facebook account. Having a Facebook account became the college student norm. The demographics of Facebook users grew quickly after it was opened up to any university student. From university students, it expanded to allow high school students to create an account. Eventually anyone over the age of 13 with a valid email address gained the privilege to obtain a Facebook account. Members of this virtual social network range from students, parents, adults, and employers. |
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| jpoovey | Why it's popular. | Group 5 Facebook Article | 0 | Oct 20 2008, 8:16 PM EDT by jpoovey | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2008, 8:16 PM EDT
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To understand why Facebook is so popular, one must first look at the services it provides, as well as the features that make it such a unique website. As every parent knows, teenagers and young adults want to express themselves; Facebook is the way to do this. It lets user’s post personal information of their choice. This information pertains mainly to interests of the use. Some examples of the categories Facebook lets users fill in are: Activities, favorite music/television/books, and contact information.
In addition, it is a way to meet people, and stay in touch with friends that have moved away to go to college. Included on the website is a system which allows users to send personal messages to each other, much like modern day pen-pals. Also, is a feature that lets user currently on Facebook to chat directly with each other, allowing for faster conversation. All of these features prevent users from ever feeling “left out.” Of course, one of Facebook’s most popular features is its event application. This application allows Facebook users to see what kinds of events (music shows, parties, etc.) are occurring locally. Aside from this, there are even game and music applications, leaving even more space for personal expression. All of these features allow for a unique experience every time one visits the website. In addition, allows users to express themselves and stay in touch with friends at the same time. This, combined with the other features has resulted with Facebook becoming one the most popular websites of all time. |
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| RMcGinnis | Parents and Privacy | Group 5 Facebook Article | 0 | Oct 20 2008, 7:48 PM EDT by RMcGinnis | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2008, 7:48 PM EDT
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In regards to the privacy on Facebook, there are certain options available to parents in protecting their children. The privacy settings for Facebook have four different tabs which can be altered for an individual’s profile. These tabs include: Profile settings, Search settings, News Feed and Wall settings, and Applications settings.
Profile settings allow any and all information within a persons profile to have certain restrictions to other people. The options for who can see someone’s profile are broken down to either people within the same network, friends of friends, only friends, or the settings can be customized to restrict specific individuals to view only a limited profile. The same settings are also available for Privacy Search settings, when it comes to Search Visibility. The settings for what people see when they search an individual’s name can also be altered. This includes whether someone can view your picture, your friends lists, add you as a friend, or send you a message. News Feed and Wall settings can be changed to allow what topics are shared on an individual’s News Feed or Wall when someone views their profile. Some of the information that can be limited includes comments made on other peoples profiles, new friends added, and current relationship status. Applications settings are used to restrict what applications an individual wants on their profile. These settings are also used to restrict how much information someone can see on a profile through an application.. Overall, Facebok offers many privacy settings for an individual’s profile. If parents want the ability to restrict who sees their child on Facebook, or what information is posted on Facebook, these settings are readily available. However, the most effective way for parents to monitor their children’s privacy on Facebook is for the parents to have their own profile. |
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| kmchar | What teachers should know | Group 1 Facebook Article | 0 | Oct 20 2008, 2:01 PM EDT by kmchar | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2008, 2:01 PM EDT
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Academic leaders, teachers, and school and university administrators should be very familiar with social networking web sites, most importantly Facebook. Facebook began as a social networking web site for Harvard students, and was then extended to other Ivy League schools, then to all other universities, and it is now available to anyone over the age of 13. Because of the extent of the availability of use on Facebook, teachers should be very aware of what is going on in their classrooms, possibly even right under their nose.
Many students bring their computers to class, in order to appear overly studious and attentive. Little does the teacher know, these students may be browsing Facebook, writing messages on their friend’s walls, commenting on pictures, adding friends, etc. While occasional Facebooking isn’t a problem at all and can be very helpful for college students to keep in touch with one another at a large university and to keep in touch with friends at other universities. However, although rare, some Facebook users may become overly obsessed with the website and may become unable to have a computer in front of them without looking at a Facebook page. It is especially necessary for teachers of middle and high school students (ages 13-17) to make sure that these young adolescents are not becoming exposed to some of the activities that go on amongst college students and that these students are not yet ready to be exposed to. Age restrictions are put on activities, such as drinking, for the very reason that they should not be allowed at a lower level of maturity and, therefore, for these children to be exposed to these restricted items through Facebook should be better controlled. It should be up to the administrators of the high schools and middle schools to prevent these children from seeing these things through Facebook. |
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| emmanewton | conclusion | Group 5 Facebook Article | 0 | Oct 20 2008, 11:03 AM EDT by emmanewton | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2008, 11:03 AM EDT
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In conclusion, Facebook may be seen as too “technologically savvy” for some parents. However, Facebook’s features are really quite simple; it just takes some time for parents to get used to them. Facebook is generally easier to navigate than its competitor MySpace. This is because MySpace allows users to decorate their website using HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), while Facebook only allows plain text. This sole fact should make Facebook more appealing and easy to use for parents and older adults who are not technologically advanced.
Parents should find the numerous privacy settings of Facebook very comforting. Entire profiles can be private, so only friends can see the page, or sections of the page may be private, including walls, photos, groups, etc. One clause of the site’s privacy agreement stated that Facebook has a right to sell a user’s data to private companies, stating: "We may share your information with third parties, including responsible companies with which we have a relationship." This concern was criticized and quickly addressed by Chris Hughes, Facebook spokesman who claimed that Facebook has never given out a user’s information to third parties and that they do not intend to. Facebook has become extremely popular with parents ever since the site became open to more than just students. The website has more than 100 million users worldwide. No wonder everyone wants to join! |
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| rdam | What features does Facebook Offer? | Group 3 Facebook Article | 0 | Oct 19 2008, 9:54 PM EDT by rdam | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 19 2008, 9:54 PM EDT
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With 85% of College students using Facebook*, this student-centered social networking site is a hotspot for influencing young people. Special interest groups might be interested to learn that there are several features on the social networking site that can be used for spreading the group’s message.
Wall, Inbox, and Chat Posting on other Facebook members’ Walls is a quick way to communicate with friends. Private messages can be sent to a member’s Inbox similar to email. Chat is an instant messenger that allows Facebook members to quickly communicate with friends. Networks and Groups As members of Facebook, special interest groups are able to create networks and groups specific to their needs. For example, “Save the Environment, Save the World,” a group interested in saving the environment has the ability to persuade its over 5,615 members. These groups can be private or public and used for organizing discussions and events. The requirement fields are the following: a Group Name; a Description; and a Group Type. Events Facebook members can let people know about their group’s upcoming events. Group hosts can make the events private, public, or secret. The requirement fields are the following: an Event Name; a Host; an Event Type; and a Location. Photos and Video The photos and video application is a visual way for special interest groups to promote their ideas. Facebook members can upload photo albums and video; tag friends in photos and videos, and comment on photos and videos. Facebook Beacon An interesting feature that has great potential to help special interest groups is Facebook Beacon. This advertisement system allows for targeted advertisements. *Arrington, J. Michael (2005-09-07). "85% of College Students use FaceBook", TechCrunch. Retrieved on 2008-10-19. |
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| JCoach | Facebook Employment/Admissions | Group 1 Facebook Article | 0 | Oct 19 2008, 1:35 PM EDT by JCoach | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 19 2008, 1:35 PM EDT
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Facebook originally started off as a social networking site for college students. In the last couple of years it has grown from just college students to anyone that wants to join. However, employers, and now some university admission offices, have been using Facebook to do background checks on potential employers. The students you see in class everyday may have a hard time getting a job out of college for something that may be posted on their facebook profile.
Employer’s say they look at groups students may be in, pictures that may suggest wrongdoing, and what other people have posted on students profiles. Instead of a place where students can be themselves, they now have to worry about everything that goes on their profile. Facebook seems to be turning into a new form of spy ware for employers and admission offices. Facebook is a public-networking site, so the material people post on his or her profile page is available to anyone. Many universities now are taking steps with facebook. Some universities around the country have come out and said they will not let any students into their school with inappropriate material on their facebook page. Colleges and universities may be trying to limit the amount of underage drinking that goes on in college. If photos have been posted of prospective high school students drinking with their friends, it’s likely a habit they will bring to college with them. There is some controversy over the use of peoples profile pages. If you ask students, they would say it’s private to them and their friends, and if you ask an employer or admissions officer they may think it’s valuable information. There are privacy settings people can set to make their profile as “private” as possible, but there are still ways around it. All employers or universities do not conduct Facebook background checks, but people using Facebook need to be aware of what’s going on their profile so it doesn’t hurt them in the long run. |
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| kekirila | Facebook Privacy | Group 3 On Facebook | 0 | Mar 19 2008, 11:54 AM EDT by kekirila | ||||
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Thread started: Mar 19 2008, 11:54 AM EDT
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The concept of privacy on facebook has changed drastically since its creation in 2004. Many aspects of the site have been altered in the four years of its existence. Facebook started at Harvard then quickly expanded to other ivy league school then to more major universities and eventually to all colleges and universities. Today facebook is open to everyone, including one's little sister or mother. I think with each expanding step facebook's privacy lessened and lessened. It started as an elite social networking outlet for college students but has quickly turning into the cluttered mess that resembles myspace. The wide variety of applicaions is seen as unnecessary and tacky. I believe if the site had been left for only those with college e-mail addresses and the applications had never been presented then facebook could have potentially been a very intricate social networking tool in the professional world. However, it has become wildly unprofessional and somewhat inappropriate. Although one can decide what others can see on one's profile and chose who to accept as friends, most people don't screen much past deciding to confirm or deny a friendship and the way people add "friends" they've barely even met or perhaps haven't met at all it wouldn't be hard for someone to gain access to someone's facebook profile.
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| eccole | Privacy on Facebook | Group 3 On Facebook | 0 | Mar 18 2008, 4:39 PM EDT by eccole | ||||
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Thread started: Mar 18 2008, 4:39 PM EDT
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The privacy of Facebook has evolved ever since its conception in 2004. Since Facebook was only open to a few select schools, only those with those certain school's e-mail addresses could sign up to join their school's Facebook. This also meant that no one outside of their school could see their profiles unless they were friends. As Facebook started opening up to more and more schools, students could make sure that only those inside their school network could see their profile, only their friends could see their profile, or people at anywhere could look at their profiles. In 2007, Facebook opened up to the general public. This meant that no “.edu” email address was needed to validate where the Facebook member went to school. Since there was no way of validating who members actually were, privacy became a huge issue for members of Facebook. Facebook administrators added multiple options for security. Today, users have multiple options for security based on who can see what in your profile; who can search for your profile; and who can message, friend request, and “poke” you. Users can also set what content their friends can see. For example, if you didn’t want your little sister in high school to see pictures of you that your college friends tag, you can block this portion of your profile from their view. Facebook has received a lot of criticism for lack of privacy, but with the multiple settings and levels that users have, it’s really up to the user as to who can see what on their profiles.
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| bclaudon | Facebook Groups | Group 2 On Facebook | 0 | Mar 17 2008, 2:56 PM EDT by bclaudon | ||||
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Thread started: Mar 17 2008, 2:56 PM EDT
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Most of the groups I am apart of on Facebook are groups that promote an awareness campaign, groups that invite me to join their organization's Facebook group, groups asking members to join because they lost their cell phone numbers, and other kinds of groups that are purposeful and unifying. Groups are definitely used as a news outlet. Teachers are starting to use groups to provide information to the class, groups are starting in response to news stories (gas prices and the death of UNC's student body president), and groups are being used to promote upcoming events. As previously mentioned, politicians are using Facebook groups to express their campaign ideas and upcoming debates. There are groups that are getting in the way of legitimate newsworthy groups, such as "Britney Spears Lovers" and "Cats are better than dogs." These kinds of groups do not hold any newsworthiness qualities, but they do unify people. You can literally search for anything and there is a group on that topic. By searching cats, I found "Cats are better than dogs," "Dogs are sooo much better than cats," "Sexy Cats," and 500+ groups about cats. If you can filter through groups like these, and join organizational groups like the "Animal Welfare Foster Program" to learn about animals that need to be adopted, or "Relay for Life Supporters" to learn about when events are being held and how to donate money or help with the cause. Groups are a good way to get the word out on something, you just have to filter through the non-newsworthy groups to find them. It's a good tool for news seekers to use and a good way to unify and inform people on a specific event or cause.
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