Internet "Community"

This week’s topic of “Community” led me to rethink the ways that I use social networks. I’ve always been one to use a social network as an extension of my real life networks. My “friends” online are people that I know and spend time with offline. One of the biggest changes that I see is the use of social media more frequently in the business world. While my job would not benefit from the use of advertising or building an online network, I have several friends and acquaintances that are using websites like Facebook to make connections and bring in new business. I came across this video from Mike Locke, a web consultant, who describes the importance of maintaining the real business websites rather than relying on social networking to grow a business. He says that when potential customers or contacts are looking at a business, they are more likely to search for the company’s website than to look at a Facebook profile or Twitter account. I think this brings up a good point about social networking—it doesn’t work the best for all situations.

Our assignment to keep a diary of time spent on social networking sites pretty much confirmed what I already knew: I spend a lot of time online. I thought it would be interesting to compare my social media use to others, so I found a couple of articles that describe who is using social media and which sites have the most time spent on them (Spoiler Alert: Facebook wins!). Here are the links:

Facebook Passes Google in "Time Spent," What Does It Mean?

The Social Habit: Who Uses Social Media And How?

Week 3 Aha

I knew I played games on Facebook at work in my down time, but I never realized how much.  And the numbers are lower than what they used to be, because now I work on homework during down time at work also. 

I struggle to spend very much time after work on social sites because of 2 classes, martial arts, and a relationship all take a lot of time.  Typically by the time I get online for social sites, I am too tired to think of something to post.  This should change soon, with only 2 classes left after these, I am not sure what I will do with all of my time then.

Personally, I would rather have interaction in real life, instead of social sites.  Although, I understand using social websites in the winter when it is freezing outside and no way to get anywhere.  

Amanda's week 3 thoughts

Looking at how much time I spend on social networking sites, I am realizing I really do spend a very little amount of time on them. So I am looking at it wondering if I need to spend more time on social networking sites so that I can socialize more if I really even have time to. I do want to socialize more in the digital world but I don't want to take time away from other things that I am doing. Right now with two classes, my job, my son and the occasional time that I pickup a shift at my other job, I don't really feel like I have time to. Because I have been so busy it has also affected my real world social life. So I think until I can get done with school and things calm down a bit, that I will have to be ok with the fact that I can't socialize much, digitally or real world, right now.
I have attached a couple of links talking about the average time spent on Facebook and how usage is going up and I have got to be honest, I have no idea how someone can find 7 hours to be on Facebook. I can barely find 30 minutes!
The video I posted talks about how time spent online is important for teen development and how they are learning social and technical skills online. I agree but it is also a difference in generations.
I look forward to April when I will have that time!

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10457480-93.html
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/facebook-users-average-7-hrs-a-month-in-january-as-digital-universe-expands/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58X7YPebJVo

Angela's Aha Moment

Even though I'm on Facebook, I have never blogged before. I found blogging harder than putting a post on Facebook. Blogs seem to be longer than a normal Facebook post. Maybe that's why I like post better than blogs. For the same amount of time I can read 6-8 post to one blog. I don't understand why people would want to blog their thoughts. I've always had a hard time putting my thoughts to paper. I'd rather talk to a friend about my thoughts. I can see where Facebook has allowed people who are not comfortable talking to people in person the courage to talk on Facebook. I always though I was technical savvy until this class. I have already learned three new things in the last two weeks; Wordle, Xtranormal, and blogging.

Michelle's AHA

After reading Amanda's post below and seeing The Social Network yesterday, I also question Zuckerberg's motivation for not going into "damage-control" for his public image. The movie makes him look like a world-class jerk. As his character explains in the movie, part of his motivation in creating Facebook was to rehabilitate his image after the Facemash debacle. The movie also portrays Zuckerberg as someone who cares so much about acceptance that he would do almost anything to be invited into one of the Final Clubs at Harvard. He is obviously not the type of thick-skinned person who wouldn't let something like this movie bother him, so my "aha!" is that he probably is engaged in damage-control, just not in the typical celebrity way. Most celebs would issue a statement, hold a press conference, or schedule some interviews to set the record straight. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg has remained fairly quiet about the movie and focused the attention on his $100 million donation to the Newark public school system. That is not to say that his donation was intended to be a distraction, but his timing is convenient.

Amanda's AHA moment

After reading Michelle's blog, it gives me a bit of a different perspective on Facebook. The way she uses it with her students is a great idea. Students are on it often, they will want to be friends with their teacher (probably only if they are a good teacher so good job Michelle!) and what better way to keep them engaged then using the forum that they like and want. Good idea about posting those reminders and helping them with their homework because for that one who doesn't ask because they think they are stupid, it might get answered for them and they can learn. Thanks Michelle!

Who wants help?? I don’t!

Hi! I’m Michelle and I, too, am a Facebook addict. The thing that separates me from some of my fellow addicts is that I have no desire to recover. I feel like I use Facebook in the way it was intended—to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances. I don’t play the games, I don’t use the quiz applications, and I rarely post status updates. I do check it multiple times a day, often from my Blackberry. However, I try to keep my interactions from crossing over into “annoying” territory. Facebook was started when I was in college, so I was one of the original users as soon as it was offered at my school. At this point I’ve invested six years of my life to cultivating my profile—I can’t quit now!

One of my concerns as a high school teacher is how to keep my Facebook profile private from my students and co-workers. I don’t want to imply that my profile is full of profanity or inappropriate photos, but I worry about mixing the two areas of my life. One may wonder why I wouldn’t want to be Facebook friends with co-workers….this video explains my thoughts exactly! I prefer to keep my work life and my social life separate. As a teacher, it becomes extra difficult. The constant questioning from my students about why I wouldn’t be their Facebook friends became a distraction. My solution? I created a second Facebook—one without the privacy restrictions of my “real” Facebook. Now when students (and co-workers) search for me, they only find the “school-friendly” profile. My personal rules are that I don’t seek out students, but I accept every student’s request if they ask to be my friend (no playing favorites). It allows me a way to connect in a place my students are already checking daily (I’ve posted reminders about tests and projects as well as answered homework questions over Facebook), while allowing more control over the information that I put out there. The following articles discuss some of the pros and cons of teacher-student Facebook interaction:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/tech/news/6174564.html

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2008/10/10/schools-grapple-with-teachers-facebook-use/

A-ha

I haven’t thought about Facebook being used for good or bad things.  The video of the escalated relationship issue was entertaining, but something like that could easily happen in real life, or the post by Ande Gibbs about a daughter finding her father 30 years later in life.  The thought of Facebook taking over someone’s life because of games, or just trying to keep in contact with everyone is crazy to me, but this happens more and more often.

Face Book Addiction

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-04-23/health/ep.facebook.addict_1_facebook-page-facebook-world-social-networking?_s=PM:HEALTH

http://www.videojug.com/film/what-is-facebook-addiction


Hi! My name is Angela and I'm a recovered Facebook addict! I started my online networking with My Space. It seemed like overnight my friends changed over to Facebook. Of course I followed and found it to be better than My Space. to this is where the addiction started. All of my high school classmates joined. Facebook made it so easy to keep up with what everyone was doing. It was like we were back in high school again. Some I hadn't talked to since graduation. It was fun seeing how people turned out after high school.

Then I started playing Farm Town. Farm town was a competition to see who could make the most money and set up the biggest farm. I was in competition with my husband who at the time was laid off so he farmed all day while I was at work. I would spend my evenings farming to keep up. It was impossible! I even hired my son to farm for me while I fixed supper. Then one day I opened my eyes and looked around my house and realized it was a mess! I spent alomst two hours a night on Facebook and my house was suffering. My addiction had taken control. I had to quit cold turkey. I'm happy to report I have been Farm Town free for the last eight months!

Facebook

Links:
http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/21/5322759-facebook-hides-photos-of-your-ex-so-you-dont-have-to?GT1=43001

http://gizmodo.com/5669207/the-difference-between-facebook-and-twitter

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrlSkU0TFLs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRsRLZiyH20&NR=1

So I will be the first to admit I do not use Facebook that often. I only use it to keep in touch with old friends and the occassional keeping up with what my friends are doing. I do not typically do a status update but I will occassionally post new pictures. I do look forward to seeing the movie, Social Network. I too don't understand why someone is that ok with something being made showing them in a bad light. Maybe Zuckerberg is just so full of himself he really does not care about those he has wronged and how he is portrayed?
I had seen that you can do blogs on Facebook just because of a couple of posts from my friends but I have never had the desire to go read them or to create one. There are just so many other things that I can spend my time on and feel much more productive. For example, last weekend, I went through my son's clothes and packed away everything that no longer fits and won't fit for that season next year. I organized all of his toys so that it cleaned up my living room and organized his room. He's three so there was no shortage of toys! As a result, Children's Mercy is getting a large donation of toys, my living room is less cluttered, his room is less cluttered, all of his clothes fit in his dresser and overall I felt like I had accomplished a lot in that one day. If I had been on the computer, like I am now writing this blog, I wouldn't have gotten anything done and a hospital wouldn't be getting a nice addition of toys for their extremely ill patients.
With that said though, I can see how an online journal for someone could take the place of a paper and pen journal so I can see how that time allotment would replace itself.
Also, my work has a site that is being used as a forum for communication. Yesterday, there was a post from a mom on the Working Parents site, asking for a page of cool tips and tricks for a Facebook wall and gave the example of a <3 or @EnterName to prompt a hyperlink for a friend. That is just showing that people are trying to learn this technology so it can be used but it can also contribute to the downfall of intelligence. If a child learns now that they can type R U coming? How are they learning to communicate in a business world or even just having the knowledge of proper grammar and spelling?
As you can see in my Facebook video posts, I find the whole concept (the video shows it quite well) a bit strange and not needed. But that is just my opinion and to each his own. Enjoy!

21st Century IQ in a Digital Society

Week 2 Facebook

Links:
The Facebook Movie Is An Act Of Cold-Blooded Revenge – New, Unpublished IMs Tell The Real Story
Facebook Blog

Video:
Video: CollegeHumor Originals: Facebook - Off

I am on Facebook nearly every day for one reason or another.  I never knew there was a Facebook blog.  The last article in the blog had thousands of comments and likes.  I’m not sure I would ever post on Facebook blog because I use Facebook for only gaming and keeping up with friends.   And posting something for millions of people to read and respond to does not suit my style, also I don’t really care what a million strangers think, since they wouldn’t know the whole situation.

I thought the article about the Facebook movie was interesting, with how it gave some insight into the actual creation of Facebook, and how the creator will not watch the movie.  It makes me wonder why Zuckerberg would allow the movie to be made without a larger protest if he is against it?

I especially liked the video clip about Facebook face-off.  I never realized that this scenario could happen in real life, but some people will do anything to get what they want.  Also with the legal system years behind technology, I’m still not sure if there is anything a person could do through the legal system to punish the person for pretending to be them online.