Introduction To Facebook: Opportunities and Challenges For The Institution Brian Kelly UK Web Focus UKOLN University of Bath Bath Email [email_address] UKOLN is supported by: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/meetings/bath-facebook-2007-08/ This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence (but note caveat) Resources bookmarked using ‘ bath-facebook-2007-08 ' tag Aims of this talk This talk aims to provide an introduction to Facebook by looking at what it is and how it is being used. The potential of Facebook to support various activities within the institution will be explored, together with potential problem areas. The talk will lead into general discussion.

Contents What Is Facebook? Examples of usage Facebook: the opportunities Facebook: the challenges Questions Discussion

What Is Facebook?

Examples of usage

Facebook: the opportunities

Facebook: the challenges

Questions

Discussion

What is Facebook? Facebook is: a social networking Web site had the largest number of registered users among college-focused sites with over 30 million members worldwide ranked between top 10–20 web sites seventh most visited site in the US From Wikipedia

Facebook is:

a social networking Web site

had the largest number of registered users among college-focused sites with over 30 million members worldwide

ranked between top 10–20 web sites

seventh most visited site in the US

Getting Started When you register you can provide information about yourself: Personal details Contact details Interests … Note that I provide public information, but not personal details

When you register you can provide information about yourself:

Personal details

Contact details

Interests

…

Your Profile Page Here’s an example of a profile page: Your details Access to default applications Access to applications your added Facebook could be used as a personalised portal to various applications

Here’s an example of a profile page:

Your details

Access to default applications

Access to applications your added

Facebook could be used as a personalised portal to various applications

Your Profile Page Here’s an example of a profile page: Your details Access to default applications Access to applications your added Facebook could be used as a personalised portal to various applications And here’s how others may see your profile Boring isn’t it!

Here’s an example of a profile page:

Your details

Access to default applications

Access to applications your added

Facebook could be used as a personalised portal to various applications

It’s a Social Network (1) The strength of Facebook is when it is used as a social network. Here people can see: My updates to my Facebook account Applications I’ve installed Groups I’ve joined Photos & videos I’ve uploaded Blogs posts I’ve written Messages I’ve sent & received …

The strength of Facebook is when it is used as a social network. Here people can see:

My updates to my Facebook account

Applications I’ve installed

Groups I’ve joined

Photos & videos I’ve uploaded

Blogs posts I’ve written

Messages I’ve sent & received

…

It’s a Social Network (2) Here’s the page of a former colleague (now at Eduserv). This is valuable to me: Spot friends in common Keep informed of Andy’s professional interests (of interest to me) Keep informed of Andy’s discussions with others …

Here’s the page of a former colleague (now at Eduserv). This is valuable to me:

Spot friends in common

Keep informed of Andy’s professional interests (of interest to me)

Keep informed of Andy’s discussions with others

…

Student Use (1) Example of groups subscribed by a student: Student society Facebook seems to be very popular for use with Student union societies (nb is this a threat to similar services provided on Student Union Web site?)

Example of groups subscribed by a student:

Student society

Student Use (1) Example of groups subscribed by a student: Student society Notice how the issue of local versus global Facebook groups is being discussed. Would a local-only group act as a barrier to student alumni?

Example of groups subscribed by a student:

Student society

Student Use (2) Example of groups subscribed by a student: Student society Social Facebook is popular for various social activities – especially for keeping in touch over summer

Example of groups subscribed by a student:

Student society

Social

Student Use (2) Example of groups subscribed by a student: Student society Social Note that Facebook provides access to videos and photos – a way of providing seamless access or a bandwidth hog?

Example of groups subscribed by a student:

Student society

Social

The Opportunities Facebook provides great opportunities for the Universities: It’s popular It’s easy-to-use No need for in-house development or to purchase software Useful for staff and post-graduate students too We can easily integrate our resources into Facebook (e.g. RSS feeds, blogs, etc.) It can provide alternative access to our services cf. MyNewport portal which took a day to port to Facebook

Facebook provides great opportunities for the Universities:

It’s popular

It’s easy-to-use

No need for in-house development or to purchase software

Useful for staff and post-graduate students too

We can easily integrate our resources into Facebook (e.g. RSS feeds, blogs, etc.)

It can provide alternative access to our services cf. MyNewport portal which took a day to port to Facebook

What Others Are Doing MyNewport : VLE/portal used by staff & students (course material, news, blogs, forums, etc.) Facebook app allows students to access to MyLearning resources Allows students to create their own personal learning environment in a platform other than the University’s Facebook targeted as it’s the fastest growing community If the users like idea but want to work in another environment then that is fine See info on UK Web Focus blog & Michael Webb’s (IT Services director at Newport College) blog

MyNewport :

VLE/portal used by staff & students (course material, news, blogs, forums, etc.)

Facebook app allows students to access to MyLearning resources

Allows students to create their own personal learning environment in a platform other than the University’s

Facebook targeted as it’s the fastest growing community

If the users like idea but want to work in another environment then that is fine

What’s The Downside? Various concerns have been expressed about: Privacy (is Facebook a private or public space?) Is Facebook a space for students or for all? Is Facebook a closed environment? …

Various concerns have been expressed about:

Privacy (is Facebook a private or public space?)

Is Facebook a space for students or for all?

Is Facebook a closed environment?

…

The Challenges (1) Facebook can provide challenges for the institution IT Service departments, for example, are always liable to receive criticisms These days as well as User Group meetings and online forums, users can create their own discussion groups

Facebook can provide challenges for the institution

IT Service departments, for example, are always liable to receive criticisms

These days as well as User Group meetings and online forums, users can create their own discussion groups

The Challenges (2) How should the departments respond? Read the posts to gain feedback on areas in which improvements may be needed? Join in the discussions Ban such discussions / people who make inappropriate comments? Ignore the groups

How should the departments respond?

Read the posts to gain feedback on areas in which improvements may be needed?

Join in the discussions

Ban such discussions / people who make inappropriate comments?

Ignore the groups

The Challenges (3) Note though: Departments may find support being provided on the discussion groups There will always be criticism Do our (fee-paying) students have a right to watch “crap on YouTube” What if this slows network down? How does the university engage in discussions on this topic with the students?

Note though:

Departments may find support being provided on the discussion groups

There will always be criticism

Other Issues There are also challenges for individuals What if this group I’ve joined isn’t about nos. of UK Facebook users, but a BNP support group? A friend has joined a group which advocates violence! Note that Facebook isn’t a local University service, so it can’t be banned. Is this were we need education (for staff as well as students)?

There are also challenges for individuals

You Can Manage Your Privacy You have control over the information others can see about you

You have control over the information others can see about you

You Can Manage Your Privacy You have control over the information others can see about you But how many users change the default settings? And what about what Facebook can do with your information? Note that Wikipedia provides useful information on Facebook’s terms and conditions

You have control over the information others can see about you

But how many users change the default settings?

Terms & Conditions Have you read the terms and conditions?

Have you read the terms and conditions?

Terms & Conditions Have you read the terms and conditions? It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor Agreement

Have you read the terms and conditions?

It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor Agreement

Terms & Conditions Have you read the terms and conditions? It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor Agreement But how might Facebook reuse your information?

Have you read the terms and conditions?

It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor Agreement

But how might Facebook reuse your information?

Terms & Conditions Have you read the terms and conditions? It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor Agreement But how might Facebook reuse your information? And how might they share it with others?

Have you read the terms and conditions?

It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor Agreement

But how might Facebook reuse your information?

And how might they share it with others?

Terms & Conditions Have you read the terms and conditions? It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor Agreement But how might Facebook reuse your information? And how might they share it with others? And what’s their policy of changing their policy, security, etc?

Have you read the terms and conditions?

It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor Agreement

But how might Facebook reuse your information?

And how might they share it with others?

And what’s their policy of changing their policy, security, etc?

What Do My Friends Think? A question I asked on Facebook: Facebook: (a) institutions need to engage with it as our students like it or (b) its their social space; let's leave it alone? Responses from my Facebook friends, 1 Aug 2007

A question I asked on Facebook: Facebook: (a) institutions need to engage with it as our students like it or (b) its their social space; let's leave it alone?

Some Thoughts Facebook: We can’t ignore it! So should we: Leave it for students to use as they see fit? Allow departments to use as they see fit? Make formal use of it? In all scenarios how should we: Address privacy concerns for the students (and staff)? Address the issue of whether the university should respond to criticisms? Address our needs to protect the integrity of the institution? Provide advice, training, etc. on best practices?

Facebook:

We can’t ignore it!

So should we:

Leave it for students to use as they see fit?

Allow departments to use as they see fit?

Make formal use of it?

In all scenarios how should we:

Address privacy concerns for the students (and staff)?

Address the issue of whether the university should respond to criticisms?

Address our needs to protect the integrity of the institution?

Provide advice, training, etc. on best practices?

Questions Any questions?

Any questions?