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Facebook: the good, the bad and the ugly
I'm a user of facebook. I have been for the last 4 years. I like and I don't like it - for various reasons. I like staying up to date with topical issues and I like hearing about what my friends are doing. I have reconnected and met up with very old friends of mine - that's the beauty of facebook. I don't like that it can be all consuming if I let it. Alerts come in via email and from there I sometimes open up facebook and then I'm lost in updates and photos again... Sometimes I feel insecure about my information and photos and then I change/delete information and photos from my site. It's a constant source of distraction and angst. When I first started using facebook, I would without hesitation accept friend requests. Today I'm more cautious. Plus, my security settings are tight and I feel like I need to check often to see if my settings have been altered (paranoia). Sometimes I come across foul language and that is very unpleasant. Yesterday I asked my grade 8 students (12-13 year olds) how many had a facebook account - 22 out of 29 said they did. In a year or two I'm sure that number will increase to 28 or 29 out of 29. I have teenage nieces and nephews - they are on facebook and I am "friends" with them - I've been surprised to see some of their comments and their photos. Two years ago Jesse Miller came to our school to present at a staff professional day. It was enlightening and jaw dropping experience for the teachers to learn about the ramifications and far reaching effects of social media. Last year, Jesse Miller came to speak to our students It was a very informative session - the students weren't the best behaved, however. They were annoyed by the facts and the intrusive nature of the subject matter. They giggled their way through Jesse's presentation. The auditorium wasn't the best venue. Jesse Miller came to a grade 8 class a month later and it was a much better received presentation. Perhaps it's the manner in which Jesse Miller should reconsider how he presents. Check out his website:
That's the good, the bad and the ugly with facebook.
Here's a link to Stephanie Buck's article "12 Things Students Should Never Do on Social Media" as posted at Ian Jukes website:
The list includes not to posting confidential information, to avoid emotional posts, not to rely on privacy settings 100% and to avoid posts that include violence and bullying. Lots of common sense but very good reminders.
LinkedIn. I'm also a subsriber to this professional networking service. I like to keep up with updates and new connections. Even though I've signed up, I'm not a steadfast user - I infrequently check in.
I have just discovered a new social networking site: Fancy.
Here is what I found out about it (from http://www.prestashop.com/blog/en/fancy-new-social-network-thats-climbing-charts/)
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A few months ago, we talked about a happening social network called Pinterest. Today we’re going to look at another social network that’s getting a lot of attention… Fancy!
Created in 2010 by Joe Einhon, Fancy takes in over $50,000 in sales per week and already has more than 1 million users!
The Fancy slogan “Make a catalog of your favorite things around the web and around the world” clearly explains the site’s objective. They want to become the biggest international catalog around.
Essentially, Fancy is a shopping experience that is collaborative in nature. Here is how it is different to Pinterest:
At first glance, Fancy bears a striking resemblance to Pinterest, the popular social networking site where users "pin" items they like from the Web on a virtual bulletin board. But unlike Pinterest, Fancy allows users to buy items without leaving the site. Fancy takes a 10 percent cut from sales, creating a steady revenue stream. (The Huffington Post - http://blog.360i.com/social-marketing/the-fancy).
I like the idea of not leaving the site to purchase something I'm interested in. I buy items online often - this would appeal to me.
One final new social networking site I discovered is Dribbble:
I- What is Fancy?
Fancy defines itself as “a store, a blog, a magazine and a wish list.” Today, it’s a marketplace where traditional retailers and individuals can sell all sorts of products. At the moment, Fancy displays more than 2 million new objects each week!Created in 2010 by Joe Einhon, Fancy takes in over $50,000 in sales per week and already has more than 1 million users!
The Fancy slogan “Make a catalog of your favorite things around the web and around the world” clearly explains the site’s objective. They want to become the biggest international catalog around.
Essentially, Fancy is a shopping experience that is collaborative in nature. Here is how it is different to Pinterest:
At first glance, Fancy bears a striking resemblance to Pinterest, the popular social networking site where users "pin" items they like from the Web on a virtual bulletin board. But unlike Pinterest, Fancy allows users to buy items without leaving the site. Fancy takes a 10 percent cut from sales, creating a steady revenue stream. (The Huffington Post - http://blog.360i.com/social-marketing/the-fancy).
I like the idea of not leaving the site to purchase something I'm interested in. I buy items online often - this would appeal to me.
One final new social networking site I discovered is Dribbble:
Here's a direct quotation I found on dribbble:
"For those who are unaware, Dribbble is a social hub for designers (mostly web folk) to showcase small screenshots of their latest work, in order to gain feedback from the community. I’ve been using it since early June and just wanted to share my thoughts". http://www.kevcharlton.com/droooling-over-dribbble/
I love the idea of sharing ideas online in order to receive feedback. This site offers only a few opportunities for invitations - that way not EVERYONE can comment. The hope is to have a qualified group of designers at the helm. Searching for specific items is easy as when photos are uploaded they are tagged. The value of this site is the sharing of works and commenting on the works of others. Neat.
Excellent post! I am so glad you mentioned Jesse Miller and his company Mediated Reality. He really is excellent in demonstrating some of the dangers and pitfalls of Facebook, and social media. I wish every grade 8 student in BC could sit with him and get a personalized lesson.
ReplyDeleteAlso, great back and forth discussion about Facebook and the right balance for you. Its important to demonstrate to students that, even as adults, we are conflicted about facebook and other social media and are unsure about the potential problems and pitfalls with this new media, new tools and new openness. I think you are right to constantly re-visit your privacy settings to ensure you are private and protected. And kudos to you for engaging with your students to find out where they are at in their own social media usage. I believe it highlights the importance of us, as Teachers and T-L's to demonstrate and role-model appropriate usage.
Very cool tools you have found in Fancy and Dribble. I've never heard of them, but they seem to be focused communities that are meeting the unique needs of their members. I like it.
Thanks for sharing this insightful, personalized and reflective post.