Post #8 Fb & other Social Networking Tools

http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/e_article000993849.cfm

Some universities have adopted a more proactive approach and have decided to "test the waters" by integrating several of these tools into their courses:

Reaching Students Through Facebook, YouTube, Digital Storytelling and Second Life: Rice University has undertaken an initiative to start using the things that their students are already using. Students indicated that they don't use email (email is for old people). They use their social networking tools. http://connect.educause.edu/blog/happyharriet/reachingstudentsthroughfa/46250
One of the speakers in this video mentions the importance of taking advantage of the student's "natural enthusiasm" (for social networking tools).

There are many social networks available: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites). I would like to compare the ones that collge-age students seem to use the most:

1. Facebook
2. MySpace
3. Bebo

What do all three have in common?

• Social networking sites are typically free to join.


• Members have their own home page with a funny/cool/passport photograph.


• Some basic personal information (e.g., age, gender, location) and sections where they can write about themselves or make a statement.


• In addition, members of social networking sites generally get a free blog, the most recent entries of which are flagged on the home page.


• Members can register with each other as friends, a status that typically allows them to use certain means of communication and gives access to more private content (e.g., pictures) on each other’s site.


• Each member’s friends are listed on their site, with the pictures of the most important few displayed on the home page.


• It is very common for friends to communicate by writing public messages in the friend’s comments section at the bottom of each home page.
  http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk/e_article000993849.cfm
  

What Fb and MS have in common:

They both aim at creating communities and connecting people with common interests. Registered users on both sites can benefit socially, professionally or romantically due to the availability of information on the large population of users. http://media.www.dennews.com/media/storage/paper309/news/2005/09/09/TheVerge/Facebook.Vs.Myspace.The.Heat.Is.On-979641.shtml

Differences and Similarities between Fb and MS:

Facebook:

Target: High School and College students.

Design: Clean and clear.

Profile information: Well organized. Limited customization.

Privacy: Viewers need to request permission to view your site. Secure community.

Target: Information.

Media:

• Pictures: Well-organized. Can tag people. Can add Flicker.


• Videos: Can upload videos. Flash player.


• Music: Can add music.


• Sharing: Through embedding or feeds.

Community:

• "Friends" are often your real friends.


• Groups: A big feature in Fb.


• Keeping track/updates: Through two feeds (your own and your friends).


• Messaging: Friends can live messages. E-mail system.


• Professional connections: Fb allows you to connect to co-workers/professional liaisons/work networks.

Comments by users: Facebook is more one-dimensional.

MySpace:

Target: Teens to ? (biggest age group: between 30-45) http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2008/01/coming-soon-target-google-adwords-to-myspace-users.html

Design: Many different design layouts.

Profile information: Prompted to post extensive personal information. Very cutomizable.

Privacy: Need to determine level of privacy in the settings.

Target: Music, video, films and entertainment.

Media:

• Pictures: Can add Photobucket.


• Videos: Can upload videos. Flash player.


• Music: Can add music. Most bands have a MS account.


• Sharing: Through embedding (yo can grab embedded media like videos from other profiles to repost on MySpace).

Community:

• Friends can be strangers (there is a sense that the idea is to get the most "friends" you can get.
  
• Groups: Not as prominent as in Fb.


• Keeping track/updates: You need to go "look for changes" on your and people's profiles.


• Messaging: Friends can live messages. E-mail system.


• Professional connections: No features that allow for professional interactions.

Comments by users: MS is more individual.

What about Bebo?

Bebo:

Target: High School and College students (very popular in the UK, Ireland, and New Zeland).

Bebo is the 85th most popular English-language website according to Wikipedia.

Profiles: module based.

Privacy: By default is private.

Media: You can upload pictures, videos.

Music: You can download music from Bebo. Connects to iTunes.

Groups: Viewable to school members.

Mobile: Allows you to receive text alerts, upload photos and update your profile from your cellular phone.

Other networks: You can add IM, Skype and Windows Live Messenger

Comments by users: Essentially, Bebo is MySpace meets Facebook. http://mashable.com/2006/05/07/myspace-alternatives-bebo/

Here is a video that shows the differences between Fb and MS in a parody video similar to the Mac/Pc commercial:
http://www.webware.com/8301-1_109-9724594-2.html


Sources:

http://www.surfnetkids.com/safety/differences_between_myspace_and_facebook-18960.htm

http://mashable.com/2007/06/10/facebook-hammers-myspace-on-almost-all-key-features/

http://media.www.dennews.com/media/storage/paper309/news/2005/09/09/TheVerge/Facebook.Vs.Myspace.The.Heat.Is.On-979641.shtml

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