Social Networking

What is it?


Social networking sites allow users to connect with friends online. The most popular sites are Facebook and MySpace.

On these sites, users create a profile with personal information and a picture. Privacy settings can be used to protect this information. Users then add each other to their “friends list.”

On MySpace, once you are someone’s friend, you are notified when they update their blog. On Facebook, you are notified when your friends update their status (what they are doing or feeling), when your friends write on your “wall” (message board), and when your friends invite you to play games or take quizzes within Facebook. On both sites, you can share pictures, video, links, and music with your friends.

Step 1

Go to the Facebook website (http://www.facebook.com) and click the “About” link at the bottom of the page. This will take you to Facebook’s profile for themselves. This gives you an idea of what a profile looks like. Note the wall (message board area) and the “Info” and “Photo” tabs at the top.

Step 2

Sign up for a Facebook account. Add as much or as little information as you like, and adjust your privacy level (go to “Account” and then “Privacy Settings”). Become a fan of CPL on Facebook: search for “Calgary Public Library” in the search box at the top. Click on “Become a Fan” at the top of the page. Comment on one of the notes or photos, or write something on the wall!

In your blog, comment on ONE of the following:

• Why do you think social networking sites are so popular? What are the main appeal factors?

OR

• For you, is Facebook useful or a time-waster?

Please note that for those of you that already have an existing Facebook account, please feel free to use that account.

~Heather & Katie