Is your Grandpa on Facebook?

I came across this article featuring a columnist sharing his experience with his over 80 year old grandfather using Facebook. It states that many senior citizens have been using social networking sites- "Facebook estimates that it has a few million users over the age of 65. MySpace claims to have 6.7 million users age 65 and over on its site. In fact, according to MySpace spokeswoman Jessica Bass, older users are among the site's fastest growing demographic." It is also very interesting because the author shares about his grandfather posting his own 25 random things, and how he learned a lot about him that he didn't know before the post.

This led me to think about the oldest friend I have on a social networking site- my Grandma on Friendster. I joined Friendster last year after learning that it was as popular to my cousins in the Philippines as Facebook is to Americans. So, in attempts to keep in touch, I created a Friendster. While I'm not a big fan of it, it has helped me stay in touch with my relatives more- it wasn't just my cousins- it was my uncles, nieces, nephews, and many many more. So, to make my Grandma Shirley's presence known to our family in the virtual world, my cousins made her a Friendster- they post her latest pictures up, she receives comments from friends and relatives, and while she does not know how to use it, she looks at it regularly and likes that she feels connected to everyone. It's pretty cool.

So. How do your grandparents use social networking sites?

Twitter and Politicians

Truthfully, I never heard of Twitter until it was brought up in lecture, and I was surprised that a site that provided small updates that answer” What are you doing?” was becoming so popular. It wasn’t until recently that I came across a couple of articles which stated that politicians were starting to Twitter for various reasons.

In Politicians using Twitter in growing numbers, Twitter was mentioned as a networking tool that is growing exponentially in popularity. In fact, even McCain, who had previously been mocked for being computer-illiterate, now creates multiple Twitter messages a day (politicians and congressmen boast thousands of followers). This caught my eye because as an economics major, it was especially interesting how the rest of the nation could follow issues such as the bank bailout and the stimulus debate through following Twitter updates that members of Congress post on a Web site or on their cell phones.

In addition, this would help politicians connect directly with the constituents. It’s fascinating how short, instantly transmitted messages that don’t even exceed 140 characters can appeal to the public so much. But as stated in the article, I agree that people are attracted to Twitter posts because they provide “a real glimpse of (my) life and job”.

Facebook and Parents

Our group found the article “Facebook pages concern parents of college freshmen” especially interesting because it really focuses on how important it is for incoming freshmen to look at profile pages. The beginning of the article states that many incoming freshmen quickly check the Facebook profile pages of their roommates or hallmates almost immediately after receiving their housing assignment, especially to check out pictures. On the other hand, looking at Facebook profiles may make some parents hesitant and paranoid about their child’s housing assignment. In fact, housing officials at colleges have reported that more and more parents who don’t like the roommates’ Facebook profiles are actually requesting housing assignment changes.

I’ve never had any personal experience with this (because my parents weren’t aware that Facebook even existed), but I do believe that Facebook can give either a false or accurate representation of the individual. At the same time, this article emphasizes the importance of a profile within a social-networking site for any individual. I believe that in the eyes of parents, who may see things on a profile as extremely representative of their son or daughter’s roommate, pictures that contain party cups may be an issue of huge concern. Students may or may not see this as a big deal (overall, they seem to give other students more of a “chance” and not judge entirely based off a profile).

Facebook and College Applicants

In my research group (and even within my other groups of friends), we have recently been talking about how Facebook profiles are no longer visible to just "friends". Many of my friends have actually chosen to hide their photos because admissions officers, job interviewers, or anyone involved in hiring you for a job may go to your Facebook or Myspace profile page and check out your qualifications. According to the article College Applicants, Beware: Your Facebook Page is Showing, admissions officers do admit to looking at social-networking sites and photos on students' profile pages to evaluate applicants. In fact, many of the admissions offers say that what they saw on the profile pages have negatively affected their view of the student.

Our research project partly focuses on how first-year students form their expectations of their college experience by looking at the Facebook profile pictures of their hallmates (especially prior to move-in). We felt that this field of study can also apply because colleges are forming expectations of their applicants around profiles on social-networking sites. However, many college or job applicants can argue that their profiles are not an accurate representation of themselves as an individual and that it may only be a "partial view" of any student. Still, admissions officers believe that students should be held accountable for their actions and that to a certain extent, a profile page does accurately reflect the individual.

Why we really go on Facebook

I came across an amusing (and insightful?) article in Newsweek the other day. It is entitled Facebook Made Me Do It: Seven lies we tell ourselves about social networking. The article lists the reasons we tell ourselves we use Facebook and the reasons we actually on go on Facebook. I must admit that I have very little experience with Facebook, but judging by my more extensive experience with Myspace the article hits home on many points. As we discussed in class, people online tend to be more open when it comes to divulging very personal information (sometimes uncomfortably so) about themselves and their friends. We often blame the social platform for our verbal vomit, rationalizing to ourselves that “it’s what Facebook is for” or “everyone else is doing it.” I also found it interesting that the author likened Facebook to a reality show, where people can get into each other’s business and find juicy information about friends and foes, all relatively anonymously. The author asserts that we may tell ourselves that we use Facebook to keep in touch with old friends and aquaintances, but we're really just nosy. People have always been nosy, Facebook just provides us with a newer, convenient way to snoop. I have to admit I have been guilty of this nosy obsession, but this probably would not be the case if people were not so open with their private lives on these social networking sites. So, instead of shifting the blame to Facebook, I shift the blame to those overly candid Myspace-ers and Facebook-ers. You know who you are.

There are more interesting insights in the article; hopefully some of you can look it over sometime. I’m interested in what those who frequent Facebook have to say about this article, especially since I don’t have much experience with online social networks like Facebook. Does it ring true or is totally off base? In addition, does anyone have any Facebook stories they would like to share that relate to the article above?

Soldiers banned from MySpace and Facebook

The last interesting article I came across while browsing through digg.com, was about how soldiers have been told to stop using social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook, after military officials ruled it could lead to a security breach. According to the article, posting information on the internet through blogging, joining in forum discussions or online multiplayer games is now considered "public disclosure of information". As a result, troops who regularly use networking sites to keep in touch with family and friends are angered.

I have friends that attend USAFA [US Air Force Academy], are enlisted in the Navy, Army, and Air force and keep in contact with me through AIM, facebook, and myspace. I'm sure that as a safety precaution they had the best intentions in mind for banning social networking sites. But this is the new digital age, where the generation is more technologically savvy and more common means and methods of communication have evolved from letters/postcards and emails to texting, leaving facebook/myspace comments, posting online video/textual blogs, etc. So to take that away from people who are already so distant from their actual social networks is a controversial decision. Personally, I feel it's a personal space. I feel that they should have their right to privacy and own a Myspace and Facebook. Instead of banning Myspace and Facebook, the government should make a compromise on allowing them to just use it solely for the purpose of social networking/keeping in touch with friends and family and not disclose any information regarding their training, position, location, and military "specs." Any thoughts on this matter?

Social Websites Harm Children's Brains

Another interesting article I came across while browsing through digg.com was this article that was basically a warning from neuroscientists to parents that social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users. According to the article, social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make young people more self-centered.

Reading this article, I was reminded of my middle school/high school cousins that own a facebook/myspace and are avid users. It made me realize that the new younger generation is more technologically savvy but at what costs? If this study is true, I wouldn't be surprised if my cousins' neurologically "soft" brains develop a slight case of ADD or ADHD from being daily facebook/myspace users. I guess this is related/parallel to kids playing rated M games that have a lot of gory/violence in them. Also, growing up my parents wouldn't let me have a TV in my room because they felt it was a distraction, wanted me to spend more time outside of my room [not cooped up in there alone], and felt it was best for me. Looking back at it, I feel they were right [I didn't spend hours sitting on my bed watching TV, spent more time studying and with family/friends]. What do you guys think about this whole ordeal?

Facebook's "25 Random Things"

Of course, you're all well-versed in the note, "25 Random Things," by now. But my friend actually just sent me this Slate article, and it is actually really intriguing! The goal, albeit an unrealistic one, was to track down the "creator" of the note. While no person was ever found and credited with birthing the note, over 3000 Slate people responded to a series of inquiries regarding "25 Random Things." The results, according to the Slate journalist, reveal a trend that resembles the "classic exponential growth of an epidemic curve."

Apparently, the trends revealed in the recorded posting and sharing of "25 Random Things" corroborates the hypothesis that catchy online ideas propagate according to evolutionary principles of mutation and selection. I think this only has a chance of holding true if the "ideas" are short enough to catch a user's attention, and entertaining enough to warrant a passing on. In any case, this might be useful to anyone doing research on social dynamics and Facebook. It definitely says a lot about the evolution of culture, whether virtual or in real life.

“Getting that Online Religion”

In a NPR segment back in 2007, religion on the internet was discussed, particularly how the internet is changing the way we communicate with the holy. An interview with Godtube.com (now Tangle.com) founder Chris Wyatt provided some interesting insight on the ways the internet appeals to the religious. Hyatt’s Godtube.com, a video-sharing site that includes a virtual prayer wall, gives believers and nonbelievers alike a way of getting in touch with the spirit online. For believers who are already members of a church sites like Godtube.com provide a community where people from different parts of the world and of different religious backgrounds come together and share ideas and beliefs through blogging, videos, and participating in the prayer wall. It also provides a venue for church members to reach new people (“spread the message”) in an increasingly secular environment. As discussed in class, virtual communities offer individuals with shared interests and identities a forum to come together “under the same roof” and engage in religious activities. It seems that Godtube.com and the like bridge social capital; they provide limited social support and broaden the social horizons and worldviews of those who frequent the site. These sites also have the capability of enabling bonding social relationships between people and creating stronger personal connections.

For nonbelievers, the site provides access to a variety of religious denominations and media. Websites like Godtube.com are opened to everybody and therefore an environment where people of different persuasions are welcomed and encouraged to participate. Some people often find it easier to ask tough religious questions online as opposed to in person due to the anonymity the internet affords. Cyberspace in general allows disabled and other marginalized people to feel as if they are part of a community.

However, religion online does appear to have it limits. The most notable discrepancy between online and offline religion is the relative inability to fully recreate a religious experience online. One reason for this is due to the limits of modern technology to provide one with the physical and mental feeling of a religious experience such as prayer and confession. Aside from programming issues, people often face issues of religious law that prohibit them from engaging in religious practices online. For example, conducting religious services in a synagogue created in Second Life is not allowed. However, it is evident that the internet is changing the ways we practice and think about religion in our day to day lives, and therefore, it may be that someday soon people will be able to engage a ‘real’ religious experience online.

Children and Internet Use

My group and I are looking at children and internet use. It's amazing to me because the use of internet and technology in general has changed so much, since we were kids. (Which is not even THAT long ago!) Kids today are using social networking sites, playing a bunch of video games and Disney even has virtual worlds specifically for kids. I was actually talking to one of my best friends this weekend and she was telling me that her cousin who is in the 5th grade has a cell phone and sent her a text a few days ago. I had to beg my parents to get me a cell phone and this was when I was in the 8th grade! Yes, time has definitely changed. 

I think it is wonderful how advanced technology has become, but in a way, it freaks me out a bit. Children using various websites and being exposed to SO much was unheard of a few years ago. I really think that parents totally have the right to be over protective of their children when it comes to internet use and they should be keeping an eye out when it comes to their online activity. This article that I read on CNN is about how Myspace kicked off 90,000 sex offenders from their website. Yes, 90,000!! If I were a parent, I would be horrified to know that my kids were potentially talking to networking with these people. I think children are being exposed to too much. 

Our group is looking into why children (preteens - mostly between the age of 10-14) use the internet. We are looking into what sites they use, and what their motives are when they visit these sites. We have started doing some research and are finding some pretty interesting data so this research is going well so far. 

We worry now about the kids of this generation, but I wonder sometimes, how things will be when we are parents and we are raising our kids. A bit scary, right? 

-Miko 

25 random things....

So to all the facebook users out there....how many of you have done the note entitled "25 random things" i have also seen it listed as 16 20 or 15... but i am sure the numbers change around constantly. I was browsing around on yahoo and I found this article about this chain letter. The article basically says that there are those that see the article as a way to become even closer to their friends by going beyond "superficial way to know other people" the article further states "Doing things like this 25 Things note allows us to go a little bit deeper, because we do search for a deeper relationship interpersonally."

The article goes further to say that not everyone feels the need to fill out this letter in fact many groups have sprouted up to protest this letter.

From personal experience (as i have filled out at least 3 of these) I think its fun to share random things with people. Of course, I do put some type of thought into what I put... alot of mine were memories of stupid things that I did when i was younger. Ocassionally when i feel braver I would release one of my bad habits or a pet peeve. hahah often times I amuse myself with these. I agree that these random things help us to understand differences and similarities between me and my friends but I also understand the other side... after filling out 3 I don't really feel the need to do another one... now... back when chain letters were popular via email I didnt really do that... (I have probably been cursed many times or have had countless wishes pass me by because of my lack of correspondence to the chain letters)...but now that these chain letters...rather, chain notes have started to circulate, I really hope that it doesnt blow up to become "spam." I just can't quite figure out why I feel obligated to fill it out? Perhaps, because it makes me believe that my friend has opened up and i feel the need to be on equal standing...


Sometimes I find these notes rather enlightening... as I am digging into my brain for random facts...I recall certain things that make me smile and some things that I just can't help laughing about...

Any thoughts or theories as to why this note is so popular? Are these notes asking for too much information?


So now that you have read my post... you need to make a note write 25 Random things on it and tag 25 people... just kidding!

-poond

Research Paper topic: Social networking sites and Teens

I was sitting around this past weekend thinking about how I should really choose a solid topic soon for the research project for this class. Last Thursday, when we had the opportunity to meet and talk with our classmates, I found a few people that had similar ideas and I was getting good responses. I thought I would share the idea with the rest of the class since I only had the chance to share mine with a few people.

I'm going to be honest - I'm not into gaming at all, but I do use social networking sites, like Facebook. They are really great tools to keep in touch with friends and family and to share things like pictures. But something that has always blown my mind is the pre-teens / teens using sites like Myspace acting like they are "hot stuff." I always think, "Oh gosh...WHY?!" (If you have seen the kind of things they write, the information they share and the pictures they post, you will be shocked - I promise. ) I thought it might be interesting to do research on this. The big question would be: Why do teens (and kids, ranging anywhere from 10-18) use sites like Myspace?? What are their objectives?

I did a bit of online research and found a few articles that could potentially work as sources for this topic.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11064451/
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/05/myspace.teens/


I'm not really set with this, but I think it would be interesting to do something along this line. (Social networking sites and teens) If any of you are interested, let me know and we can definitely discuss!


-Miko