Social Networking Sites
From CEHSWiki
[edit] Social Bookmarking and Networking Website Critique
Below are a list of links to popular social networking sites currently cutting into the 'online time' of not only students, but educators, and professionals as well. Two student workers at the ADP Center for Teacher Preparation and Learning Technologies
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Pros: If you're looking to keep in touch with friends from high school, college or some kids you met last Spring Break, MySpace is a multi-million dollar social networking site that welcomes social butterflies of all ages. It's also a great for you kids out there with garage bands who are looking to hit it big. Paramore, My Chemical Romance and KT Tunstall are a few who got noticed all thanks to Tom, the finder of MySpace. Hey, who knows, maybe MTV will make you the next Artist of the Week ... that would totally send your number of profile views into the 6 digit mark. Sweeeeeet. [am]
Cons: If you also want to add 40-year old creepsters to your Top 8, MySpace is definitely the place for you. The percentage of current online predators is staggering and not getting any lower, thanks to sites like MySpace. The online identities of people can be seriously misconstrued and you never really know if James, 18 from New Jersey really is messaging you to "just say hey ;)". Besides the weird people that may friend request you, the spamming pop-ups and overwhelming ads for witty t-shirts that have socially hip quotes on them are absolutely everywhere. Keep your wits about you when roaming MySpace, you never know where the weirdos may be hiding. [am]
Pros: Facebook, also known as the MySpace for college kids, is also a great way to keep in touch with people you meet on your campus and in your classes. When at 11PM Tuesday night you realize your group project is due Wednesday at 10AM, finding that weird kid from your group on Facebook and sending a frantic message really comes in handy. Although you no longer need a college e-mail address to sign up, Facebook's major population is made up of those who attend or are alumni of colleges around the world. The current trend with Facebook are its Applications; small programs within the website that elaborate on the user's interests, music preferences, social and political views, etc. The most famous application probably being Bumper Stickers which allows the user to upload and send little 'stickers' with funny quotes, pictures or inside jokes usually along the lines of how much cooler your group of friends are than everyone else. Whether or not Facebook is a good social networking site, here's some food for thought: the average user of Facebook logs in at least 3 times daily and usually spends 10-25 minutes surfing each time. Oh Facebook, how did we ever survive without you? [am]
Cons: The recent trend in quoting Bumper Stickers in everyday speech is slightly sickening and the 26 requests for you to add new applications to your profile everyday can get exhausting. Facebook, also affectionately known as Stalkbook, as addicting to college students as it may be, has alot more cons than we'd like to admit. We can not accept that Meghan and Steve are dating because it's not on their Facebooks. The News Feed supplies you the activity of all your friends; what friend request they just accepted, what photos they currently added or were tagged in, what their current status is, probably even what color underwear they are currently wearing. As with MySpace, be aware of what you upload. Maybe that picture of you passed out in a puddle of Captian is not as appropriate for the web as you originally planned. The boundary of simple social networking as definitely been redrawn. Now you don't have to worry if you don't have the guts to get up and say hi to that hottie from class, stalking his Facebook and sending him messages will create the same effect ... right? [am]
Pros: As with other bookmarking sites this Yahoo version is pretty well laid out and self explainitory. Users add links that they find interesting to the main page for other users to read. Some of the links are beyond interesting, some even make you say, "What?!" For example, a link that explains one Australian man's theory that contrary to popular belief, the world is cooling down and an ice age is coming. Whatever you want to post up there, believable or not, Yaho MyWeb is a good place to find interesting tibits. [am]
Cons:
