Facebook and Social Networking Rajeev Sampath University of Moratuwa [email_address] November 2007

Social Networking: What it is all about? A network is a set of connected entities. A social network means “a network of people”. A network can have a huge potential, but it becomes useful for you only if the people belong to it and the connections are visible. In the real world, most of the connections between people are hidden.

A network is a set of connected entities.

A social network means “a network of people”.

A network can have a huge potential, but it becomes useful for you only if the people belong to it and the connections are visible.

In the real world, most of the connections between people are hidden.

Social Networking Sites: The online networks…. This problem is solved by a type of websites called social networking sites. Eg: Facebook, MySpace, hi5, etc These websites help you to see people and connections between them which can be hidden in the real world. You have connections with people on the website, which more often others can also see.

This problem is solved by a type of websites called social networking sites.

Eg: Facebook, MySpace, hi5, etc

These websites help you to see people and connections between them which can be hidden in the real world.

You have connections with people on the website, which more often others can also see.

Social Networking Sites contd.. You can now see your friend’s friend’s …..friend and can make him your friend too. Due to this feature, you are exposed to the entire network, and the entire network is exposed to you. Opens the door to a whole lot of new opportunities. Can have disadvantages as well as advantages.

You can now see your friend’s friend’s …..friend and can make him your friend too.

Due to this feature, you are exposed to the entire network, and the entire network is exposed to you.

Opens the door to a whole lot of new opportunities.

Can have disadvantages as well as advantages.

Facebook: One of the giants in social networking…. World’s 2 nd most popular social networking website. Founded in February 2004 by a 20-year old Harvard University undergraduate named Mark Zuckerberg. Primarily targeting university/college students. More than 50 million users with an average of 25 million users logging on daily.

World’s 2 nd most popular social networking website.

Founded in February 2004 by a 20-year old Harvard University undergraduate named Mark Zuckerberg.

Primarily targeting university/college students.

More than 50 million users with an average of 25 million users logging on daily.

Facebook contd.. More than 150,000 people joining everyday. Somewhat different from other networking sites like MySpace due to the privacy protection it provides. Highly popular in Europe and US. Shadowed by other sites in some countries. Eg: hi5 in Sri Lanka

More than 150,000 people joining everyday.

Somewhat different from other networking sites like MySpace due to the privacy protection it provides.

Highly popular in Europe and US.

Shadowed by other sites in some countries.

Eg: hi5 in Sri Lanka

Facebook features Networks & groups – based on school, working place or geographical region. Marketplace – allows users to post classified ads for free within certain categories. Events – a way to inform upcoming events to the friends/or to organize gatherings Applications – framework for developers to create applications Status updates, poking, gifts etc..

Networks & groups – based on school, working place or geographical region.

Marketplace – allows users to post classified ads for free within certain categories.

Events – a way to inform upcoming events to the friends/or to organize gatherings

Applications – framework for developers to create applications

Status updates, poking, gifts etc..

Facebook: uses People living apart from closed ones to share information. Investigations – college students involving in illegal activities. Employers looking at profiles of prospective employees.

People living apart from closed ones to share information.

Investigations – college students involving in illegal activities.

Employers looking at profiles of prospective employees.

Innovations by Facebook Launch of F8 platform – set of APIs to develop applications. Targeting to be a “social operating system” rather than being just another social networking website.

Launch of F8 platform – set of APIs to develop applications.

Targeting to be a “social operating system” rather than being just another social networking website.

Back into social networking: the interconnection problem Different people joining different social networking sites at their will. These sites connect people by building networks. But no interconnection between these sites. End result? No communication between these networks. Networks are still isolated, isolating groups of people, mainly based on their region.

Different people joining different social networking sites at their will.

These sites connect people by building networks.

But no interconnection between these sites.

End result?

No communication between these networks.

Networks are still isolated, isolating groups of people, mainly based on their region.

Interconnection problem contd..

The solution Registering yourself at several sites? There are more than 9000 social networking sites currently in the world. How to connect them? Door is open for an entrepreneur.

Registering yourself at several sites?

There are more than 9000 social networking sites currently in the world.

How to connect them?

Door is open for an entrepreneur.

Online Social Networking: Pros Communication between people living far apart. New opportunities….. Employment opportunities, advertising, publicity gain for organisations, resource for researches, and even dating….. Very effective way to advertise, specifically aimed towards a particular person

Communication between people living far apart.

New opportunities…..

Employment opportunities, advertising, publicity gain for organisations, resource for researches, and even dating…..

Very effective way to advertise, specifically aimed towards a particular person

Online Social Networking: Cons Ideal playground for abusers, identity thieves… May not be as effective as real networks at certain instances. Non-trustworthy information. Being a target of commercial advertising.

Ideal playground for abusers, identity thieves…

May not be as effective as real networks at certain instances.

Non-trustworthy information.

Being a target of commercial advertising.