I am not very familiar with MySpace (i.e. I don't have an account with them). Alternatively, I have had a Facebook account for as long as I can remember...
It's absolutely imperative that my other half and I have an on-line account: Having attended several primary and secondary schools in different states; having friendships with people from various tertiary and vocational courses; having friends and family that live abroad; as well as having networks with characters from a variety of sporting and recreational circles allows us to all keep in touch, using a convenient one-stop forum.
Facebook is indicative of a truly virtual world for those of us whom like to regularly communicate with people from abroad, breaking down geographical and national boundaries. We frequently chat, convey personal news, display images, make enquiries of others and schedule real-time, personal get-togethers with our Facebook friends. Many of our friends really enjoy posting interesting brief sentences to convey information about "what they are doing now" and it's a fun tool. Another popular Facebook feature is tagging (notifying people) that they have been included in digital images posted on the site.
I have to admit that some friends become carried away with different groups, or causes and inviting (coercing and making others feel obliged) to take up the plight, donate or partake too, by becoming the member of something, donating money, or doing some act or other. Other friends become very preoccupied with giving electronic gifts like good karma, gnomes and teddy bears... Some are inclined to join fan clubs of people and movements in droves too, which I perceive as involving some peer group pressure, or fear of missing out mentality.
Some of my professional colleagues have formerly been concerned about Facebook's function as a data gathering tool, Facebook also collects information about you from other sources, such as newspapers and instant messaging services. This information is gathered regardless of your use of the Web Site. I consider that like all things in life, Facebook should be used in moderation and personal evaluative criteria should be applied before readily disclosing personal information. Common sense and caution should prevail.
Alternatively, I don't believe that social networking sites have much merit in the workplace at all. Recent reports have even declared that Facebook could be a five billion dollar waste of time in Australian workplaces. I think that it is more appropriate for customised communication and information sharing tools to be established in-house with suitable branding, layout and restrictions, in the interests of professionalism, propelling codes of conduct and exemplary corporate images.
Several months ago I read a scathing report related to Facebook in The Age newspaper. I was able to find the report online today: http://www.theage.com.au/news/general/beware-facebook/2008/01/18/1200620184398.html Hodgkinson has nothing but disparaging remarks to make about the way Facebook currently operates, the way it has grown so rapidly; and the (potentially untoward) motives which the co-founders and board members have. I particularly love Hodgkinson's quote, "Facebook is profoundly uncreative. It makes nothing at all. It simply mediates in relationships that were happening anyway". I agree with Hodgkinson to some extend, but for those of us whom can be nostalgic, I can attest that Facebook is a great directory for rekindling old friendships.
Jason's link to the resource titled Prediction: Facebook will be the largest social network in the world, as part of Thing number 17 is very relevant. Allen's prophecy was posted on his site during May 2007. An article from August 14 of this year with data provided by analyst organisation comScore declares that "Facebook has dethroned MySpace to become the world's most popular social networking website"; and "social network users grew... [across the board amongst all on-line providers], globally to 580.51 million people". In June 2008 alone, Facebook attracted 132.1 million unique visitors.
Irrespective of all the banter and some detractors surrounding Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg is to be commended as an entrepreneurial member of the Y generation! I wish that I was one of his Harvard colleagues responsible for the original inception and roll out of the idea. Zuckerberg has successfully capitalised on IT tools that are appealing to his generation and some older folk (like myself) too!
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