Good questions!

 

I think Facebook is appealing to an older audience (like me!) who are put
off by all the sparkly, flashing things on MySpace. I've also heard from
former (young) MySpace users that they felt MySpace wasn't very secure and
there is a higher risk of viruses. They also feel more in control with
Facebook in terms of choosing who is a friend and who can read your personal
information. There are also controls over appropriate/inappropriate pictures
that seem to be strictly enforced. Recently, there was a controversy over a
group of women posting pictures of them breastfeeding their children.
Pictures were deemed inappropriate and removed; some users disagreed with
that decision and petitioned Facebook, but I believe they stood by their
decision.

 

It is interesting that Facebook has taken off so widely in Canada. There
could be some interesting social commentary as to why Canadians have
embraced it so much more than other countries.

 

Personally, I find Facebook much easier to manage for pictures, friends
lists, etc. It can take on a life of its own, however, with add-ons!

 

I have heard, through some of my research, of educational settings using
Facebook as an add-on to online courses. It gets used, for example, as a
discussion area for group work or as a place to form community for online
students.

Vicki


  _____  

From: Mariann Fedele [mailto:MariannF at lacnyc.org] 
Sent: February 12, 2008 1:21 PM
To: vtrott at ntl.sympatico.ca; The Technology and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: RE: [Technology 1520] Re: Social Networking Part V: What about
otherkindsof Social Networking Sites?



Hi Vicki,

 

What do you think accounts for the appeal of Facebook over Myspace, and do
you thin it would be a good fit for an education setting/learning community?

Best,

Mariann

 

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