0120-250+Class_Team+3

And the World We Live In. Three teenagers are arguing about how many friends they have. One of them says, “I have 500 friends”. The other one says, “Well I have over 700 friends”. The third teen responds, “I beat you both, I’m pushing 1000 friends”! Does this scenario sound impossible? Maybe in terms of physical reality it would be. In online reality, however, it is very probable that these kids may have that many friends on what has become the world’s largest social network known as Facebook. Facebook boasts over 600 million active users. Half of those users log onto their Facebook in any given day and people spend over 700 billion minutes per month on this ever-growing cyber-space monster.
 * Introduction: **

For those people who are considered less technology suave than others, Facebook is pretty easy to use. To create a profile, all you need is a valid email address. No registration fee is required because Facebook is a free social network. Its funding comes from advertising on the site. Facebook used to have requirements that users be thirteen years or older, but there is no real restriction put on to those who are younger than thirteen or to those who lie about their age. The registration process is simple. You just fill in the blanks on Facebook’s home page including name, email address, a password, sex, and birth date. When those are completed, you click the sign up button and your information is processed. If your information, particularly your email, is valid you are then allowed to become a member. As a member or user, you can create your profile with pictures. You are able to fill in personal information such as your interests, contact information, favorites, and much more. You can make friends by either sending or accepting requests. You can communicate with your friends by chatting, sending private or public messages (i.e. writing on their walls), or by joining similar interest groups. Facebook users are allowed to edit their privacy settings. You can choose to be open to all members or you can hide your information so that only your friends can see. You can also select certain friends to see only certain areas (example: John Doe can see my pictures from last night, but Jane Doe cannot). Facebook has numerous features. Some of these include photos, status, the virtual poke, News Feed and so much more. With such an enormity of applications and interests, it is no wonder that Facebook has become the world’s largest social network.
 * Definition/Description: **

Facebook was created in 2003 by Mark Zuckerberg, a sophomore at Harvard University. Originally called Facemash, the site was used to compare pictures of  two people shown side by side and having users vote on who was better looking. Zuckerberg initially got in trouble for “violating copyrights and individual privacy”, but the charges were later dropped. In January 2004, Zuckerberg created the web site thefacebook.com, similar to today’s facebook.com. The site was created for Harvard students only. Zuckerberg asked three men specializing in programming, graphic arts, and business aspects for assistance and in March 2004, Facebook became open to other Ivy League schools and eventually most universities in Canada and the United States. In June of 2004, Facebook became an official company and moved its base of operations to California. Thefacebook.com also became just facebook.com. In September of 2005, a high school version of Facebook became available. Approximately a year later, Facebook became open to anyone thirteen years or older. There have been several controversies tied to Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook. One such of these is dealing with former Harvard students who claim that Zuckerberg stole their idea. There have also been issues with complaints about the lack of privacy on Facebook. However, those problems have not stopped Facebook from becoming the world’s largest online social network.
 * History: **

It’s obvious to see why Facebook is the number one social networking site of our time. There are many reasons why this website has over 600 million users, and the most prominent of them is that Facebook allows it’s users to establish online relationships with others. Users can search for new and old friends, and reconnect with family and friends from the past. Long distance relationships are much easier when you can simply go online and exchange messages, view pictures, chat, and comment on your loved one’s profiles. Facebook also makes it less awkward to communicate with those you might not be familiar with. Facebook makes it possible to get to know someone safely online, before having to establish any kind of personal relationship with him or her. Facebook also has many academic advantages. Facebook was originally created for the benefit of Harvard University, but now over 2000 colleges, universities, and some high schools have groups on Facebook. Users can create groups where they can post announcements, photos, or share all kinds of different information. Groups can range from student organizations, to the volleyball club, fraternity, or 'Prof. Smith’s geology group'. Many of these groups will share similar likes or dislikes, and it’s a good way to get to know your fellow students. Members can find students who are taking the same class, coming from the same place, living in the same area, and so on. Students who become group members can add each other on Facebook, rather than waste time with personal phone numbers or emails, and have the advantage of maintaining a hassle free communication. Instructors can also use Facebook to connect with their students, and may even use it as away to teach a lesson or give an assignment (see ‘Using Facebook to Teach’ video).
 * Advantages of Facebook: **

 There are many disadvantages when it comes to Facebook especially in the educational and personal setting. Facebook has been the number one issue when it comes to affecting an individual’s personal privacy. Cyber stalking is used by people to find out everything about another individual. A lot of user’s tend to leave their personal information so that it can be accessible to almost everyone. Facebook has made people become willing to give up their privacy by sending pictures of where they are or what they have done and posting their personal information for the world to see. Facebook has also been a network site used for both building friendships and relationships. However, what many individuals don’t realize is that Facebook is affecting their relationships in all the wrong ways. Relationships are becoming easier, especially long distance, however the relationship tends to be weaker and support less emotional and physical contact. As for the educational setting, students can use it to target other’s emotional depression. Since cyber bullying is proven to be an issue that every school is dealing or has dealt with, it needs to be addressed before it starts affecting the student’s social relationships, physical activity, and academic issues.
 * Disadvantages of Facebook: **

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 * The Social Network: **

Where will Facebook be in ten or even five years? Not a lot of individuals think about the direction that Facebook is going in but yet where it is at this point in time. I think it is beneficial to think and wonder how far a person will go for Facebook. Will anyone be willing to pay for Facebook? Is it just a trend of our time? What will be the next best thing? The thing about technology is that no one ever knows how long a certain idea or concept will be along. It all depends on how far people are willing to go. The idea that each individual can have a person website with their personal privacy ready to show the virtual world is already enough so the question is, what is Facebook going to do to stay on top of their game? If people want to continue to share their personal information in their virtual world, Facebook is here to stay, however, if Facebook continues to bloom, we will soon all live in a world of hostility where all we have to do is “log-in” to see our friends and what they are currently up to.
 * <span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Future Direction of Facebook: **

//<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">"The only hope for social networking sites from a business point of view is for a magic formula to appear in which some method of violating privacy and dignity becomes acceptable." – //<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Lanier


 * <span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Facebook Use in the Classroom: **

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<span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">According to onlingcollege.org there are at least 100 ways to use Facebook in the classroom. Some of the class projects or assignments might include following a news feed, sharing book reviews, polling the class, practicing a foreign language, create news sources, and following news stories. Teachers can stay connected with their class by forming a separate account or a group just for their class. On the group page, teachers can post updates, announcements and reminders, create a blog, post homework, schedule events, and so on. Students can stay up-to-date with what's going on in their class, being engaged outside of the classroom, teach personal responsibility all while having a fun time doing so. There are also many applications available on Facebook to help enhance a student's education. These include weRead, Hey Math! Challenge, Notecentric, CiteMe, Homework Help, etc. These applications allows students to manage books, study outside of class, organize notes and assignments, find citations, and find and offer help for homework. As proven, Facebook offers many ways for teachers to encourage and support their students academically. <span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">

<span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">No person can deny the effect that Facebook has had on our society. For most people, checking their Facebook is a daily ritual and about 47% of all U.S. citizens have a Facebook account. As previously discussed, there are advantages and disadvantages when it comes to Facebook. Some claim that Facebook is a breach of privacy, and can be a dangerous tool in the hands of the wrong person. Others believe Facebook is a friendly and fun way to stay connected with friends and family. It can also be effectively used in the classroom by students and teachers to enhance relationships and education. Our own personal opinion is that the advantages of Facebook outweigh the disadvantages, and that Facebook is a good way to stay in touch with new and old friends. Will Facebook last forever? Who can say. Right now we believe people should use the social and academic benefits that are offered by Facebook, and to have a fun time doing so. We know we will!
 * <span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Conclusion/Opinion: **


 * <span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;">References: **

<span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook in the Classroom." www.onlinecollege.org. N.p., Oct. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/20/100-ways-you-should-be-using-facebook-in-your-classroom/>.

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">Administration. Facebook. 28 Jan. 2011. Alpha Blog Everything for You! Alpha Blog, 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;"><http://www.alpha-aic.co.cc/facebook-to-increase-security-to-its-user-accounts>.

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Barnett, Tony. Status Update Example. 13 May 2009. TW Resource Group Affordable Small Business Marketing Strategies. TW Resource Group, 2005. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.twresourcegroup.com/ facebook-status-update-micro-blogging-experiment/>.

<span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Bookstaber, R. (2011, January 10). //The Future of Facebook and the World as We Know It.// Retrieved <span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> February 9, 2011, from SEC Website: http://rick.bookstaber.com/2011/01/future-of-facebook-and-world-as-we-know.html

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">BullisSchool. Using Facebook To Teach. Youtube. N.p., Feb. 2010. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj-XCUIbbcE>.

<span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Facebook, Inc." www.nytimes.com. The New York Times Company, 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/facebook_inc/index.html>.

<span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Facebook." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 10 Feb. 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook>.

<span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Findley, L. H. (2009, March 1). //Facebook Advantage and Disadvantages// [Fact sheet]. Retrieved <span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> February 8, 2011, from Google website: http://ezinearticles.com/?Facebook-Advantage-and-Disadvantages&id=2051514

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">Mowery, James. The Early Days. 8 Oct. 2010. Techi Fresh and Never Boring. Techi, 2010. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;"><http://www.techi.com/2010/10/ <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">a-lesson-in-facebook-history/>.

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Nelson, Todd. Facebook In Classroom. 24 Jan. 2010. Teaching and Learning Centre. Nikada, 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"><http://tlc-kdu.blogspot.com/ 2010_01_01_archive.html>.

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sonypictures. The Social Network Official Trailer -In theatres Oct 1 2010. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;"> YouTube. Sony, Aug. 2010. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4>.

<span style="color: #06068e; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Wadas, Kate. "The Challenges and Advantages of Facebook." Office of Infomation Technology - Project Nethics. University of Maryland, 19 Mar. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://www.nethics.umd.edu/resources/facebook.html>.