What are social network sites?
Online social networks emerged in 2002 as a way to create virutal communities and maintain online relationships. Networking sites require each user to log-in to their own personal page within the site. Here users can create a public profile and define friends that they remain connected to. The sites grow as each user attracts others, continually expanding the networks. The networks grew in populartiy with the introduction of sites such as Friendster and continues to grow particularly among 18-24 year olds with sites like TheFacebook.
Friendster, one of the most popular networking sites. It operates on a “circle of friends” techniqe. Each user of Friendster can define a gallery of friends and the site integrates the galleries, which allows users to search their friends and their friends’ friends. Another similar and very popular site is My Space.
TheFacebook is quickly becoming the most popular networking sites for college students, including those at Grand Valley. TheFacebook only allows users with a valid university email address to register. It is open to faculty and staff in addition to students. It presents the normal features of social networking sites such as a public profile and a friends page, but it also allows users to connect with individuals in their classes, campus organizations, living centers, or even just with similar interests.
With the rapid growth of
social networking sites among the 18-24 age group, we can only expect this genre
to keep expanding as other age groups come across this social technique.
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I have only very recently become a user of a social network site. Like most college students, my friends dragged me into TheFacebook, and like a true user, I have dragged others in as well. TheFacebook becomes a slightly addicting “hobby.” I like many others am contstantly updating my profile and changing my picture every now and then. I find myself searching through the profiles of my classmates and other people who I meet around campus. I have talked to many people here at Grand Valley who regularly blame “facebooking” as the reason they did not study enough for their quiz or the reason why they stayed up so late. |
TheFacebook does have some
very positive features, even if it does prove to be a popular procrastination
tool of college students. I have been able to make contact with people from
high school who I have not talked with in years. It is interesting to see how
everyone is doing and to maintain a distant online friendship. The Facebook
also allows you to make direct contact with people in your classes. It becomes
very easy to ask questions about an upcoming quiz or group projects.
The most immportant thing to keep in mind when using social network sites is that everything you post can be read by individuals worldwide. There are no options for complete complete privacy. It would be beneficial to take advantage of the privacy options that are available, for example only allow people specifically listed as friends to view your profile.
According to Hitwise, online networking is quickly becoming a popular job search tool for both employers and job seekers alike. Sites like Linkedin.com and monster.com have grown quickly and attract new users each day. As we are all college students, I recommend you all check out these excellent resources. Please keep in mind that all information posted must be appropriate and relevant to your job search.
If you are looking to join
a social networking site, I recommend TheFacebook. It is a wonderful source
to Grand Valley students and college students everywhere. If you do not like
Facebook or are looking for something more, check out this list.
It covers many different networks including business, dating, friends, and pets.