Facebook began in 2004 as a social networking site for Harvard students. It allowed users to create profiles, upload photos, and connect with friends. The site quickly expanded to other universities and high schools. It is now open to anyone over age 13 and has over 200 million active users worldwide. While Facebook allows users to stay connected with friends and share photos and updates, it also raises safety and privacy concerns that parents and users must be aware of.

1. Facebook
The Social Networking PhenomenonThe Social Networking Phenomenon

2. Facebook
According toAccording to www.facebook.comwww.facebook.com::
““Facebook's mission is to give people theFacebook's mission is to give people the
power to share and make the world morepower to share and make the world more
open and connected.open and connected.
Millions of people use Facebook everydayMillions of people use Facebook everyday
to keep up with friends, upload an unlimitedto keep up with friends, upload an unlimited
number of photos, share links and videos,number of photos, share links and videos,
and learn more about the people they meet.”and learn more about the people they meet.”

3. What does that mean?
• Facebook is a way for friends toFacebook is a way for friends to
communicate with friendscommunicate with friends
• Facebook is a way for people to:Facebook is a way for people to:
• connect to one anotherconnect to one another
• share informationshare information
• news & eventsnews & events
• photos & videosphotos & videos

4. Facebook Beginnings
• Developed by Harvard UniversityDeveloped by Harvard University
sophomore Mark Zuckerbergsophomore Mark Zuckerberg
• Originally called “The Facebook,” it wasOriginally called “The Facebook,” it was
launched on February 4, 2003 to be used bylaunched on February 4, 2003 to be used by
Harvard students to communicate and seeHarvard students to communicate and see
pictures of each otherpictures of each other
• Within 24 hours, 1,200 students were partWithin 24 hours, 1,200 students were part
of the site, and within a month, half theof the site, and within a month, half the
student population had joinedstudent population had joined

5. The Facebook 2004

6. From The Facebook to Facebook
• Zuckerman was joined by fellow HarvardZuckerman was joined by fellow Harvard
students Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughesstudents Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes
to improve and expand the siteto improve and expand the site
• The Facebook expanded to other Boston IvyThe Facebook expanded to other Boston Ivy
League Universities in March 2004League Universities in March 2004
• In August 2005, the domain name wasIn August 2005, the domain name was
bought for $200,000 andbought for $200,000 and FacebookFacebook was bornwas born
• It was then opened to high schools andIt was then opened to high schools and
businesses and gained popularity on thebusinesses and gained popularity on the
netnet

7. Facebook 2005

8. Facebook Today
• There are currently more than 200 millionThere are currently more than 200 million
members on Facebookmembers on Facebook
• More than 100 million members log onMore than 100 million members log on
dailydaily
• More than 30 million users log on with aMore than 30 million users log on with a
mobile devicemobile device
• More than two-thirds of Facebook users areMore than two-thirds of Facebook users are
out of collegeout of college
http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statisticshttp://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics

9. Facebook Today
Facebook Timeline

10. Who can join Facebook?
• Anyone who wants to connect with friends,Anyone who wants to connect with friends,
family, school, or work acquaintancesfamily, school, or work acquaintances
• But…But…
• Anyone between the ages of 13 and 18Anyone between the ages of 13 and 18
should get their parent’s permissionshould get their parent’s permission
• No one under 13 may joinNo one under 13 may join

11. Our Children and Facebook
• Students crave social interactionsStudents crave social interactions
• ““Everyone is doing it.”Everyone is doing it.”
• Teens need to feel part of the groupTeens need to feel part of the group
• Facebook allows students to:Facebook allows students to:
• Keep in touch with old friendsKeep in touch with old friends
• Make new friendsMake new friends
• Look at pictures and videosLook at pictures and videos
• Share information about themselvesShare information about themselves
• See what their friends are doingSee what their friends are doing
• Keep up with social functionsKeep up with social functions Racke & Bonds-RackeRacke & Bonds-Racke

12. Facebook Friends
• The average user has 120 friendsThe average user has 120 friends
• Teens often have over 200 friendsTeens often have over 200 friends
• Users decide who they want and do notUsers decide who they want and do not
want to friendwant to friend
• Many are not true real-life friendsMany are not true real-life friends
• Students spend between 2 – 3 hours onStudents spend between 2 – 3 hours on
Facebook interacting with frindsFacebook interacting with frinds
• Users are meeting a social need by belongingUsers are meeting a social need by belonging

13. What’s so great about Facebook?
Students can…Students can…
• feel connected to othersfeel connected to others
• virtual interactions allow for students tovirtual interactions allow for students to
be together when they are notbe together when they are not
• feel a sense of communityfeel a sense of community
• join groups with similar interestsjoin groups with similar interests
• experience a sense of comfortexperience a sense of comfort
• see that others may feel the same waysee that others may feel the same way
about school, family, and societyabout school, family, and society

14. What’s not so great about Facebook?
Students can…Students can…
• form opinions about others without knowing themform opinions about others without knowing them
• spend too much time online andspend too much time online and
• neglect schoolworkneglect schoolwork
• neglect real-life social situationsneglect real-life social situations
• become too trusting of othersbecome too trusting of others
• offer too much informationoffer too much information
• Information on the site can be used by futureInformation on the site can be used by future
employers or college acceptance boardsemployers or college acceptance boards
• Information stays online forever – even if youInformation stays online forever – even if you
delete it, it can be on someone else’s site.delete it, it can be on someone else’s site.

15. The Pros & Cons of Facebook
ProsPros
• Find almost anyoneFind almost anyone
• Keep track of friendsKeep track of friends
• Keep track of eventsKeep track of events
• Learn new thingsLearn new things
about peopleabout people
• Can find friends withCan find friends with
common interestscommon interests
• It can be a lot of fun!It can be a lot of fun!
ConsCons
• Anyone can find youAnyone can find you
• Too much informationToo much information
can be postedcan be posted
• Friends may not beFriends may not be
real friendsreal friends
• It can be usedIt can be used
inappropriatelyinappropriately
• It can be addictiveIt can be addictive

16. Safety
Facebook endeavors to maintain a safe siteFacebook endeavors to maintain a safe site
• Their two core principles:Their two core principles:
• To have control over your personalTo have control over your personal
informationinformation
• To have access to information othersTo have access to information others
want to sharewant to share

17. Parents MUST
• Talk to their children about online predatorsTalk to their children about online predators
• Monitor their child’s activityMonitor their child’s activity
• Check their child’s Friend listCheck their child’s Friend list
• Talk about who they can be friends withTalk about who they can be friends with
• Talk about who they can not be friends withTalk about who they can not be friends with
• Encourage their children to reportEncourage their children to report
inappropriate posts or picturesinappropriate posts or pictures

18. Safety Rules
• Never give anyone your passwordNever give anyone your password
• Review your privacy settingsReview your privacy settings
• Do not post personal information such as:Do not post personal information such as:
• Home addressHome address
• Home phone numberHome phone number
• School nameSchool name
• Block anyone you feel is inappropriateBlock anyone you feel is inappropriate

19. Facebook Safety Tools

20. Profile Settings
• Control what friendsControl what friends
can and can not seecan and can not see
• Choose how to setChoose how to set
profile information to:profile information to:
• EveryoneEveryone
• My NetworkMy Network
• Friends of FriendsFriends of Friends
• Only FriendsOnly Friends
• YOU are in controlYOU are in control

21. Searches
• Control who canControl who can
search for yousearch for you
• Control what peopleControl what people
searching can seesearching can see
• Omit your pictureOmit your picture
• Omit friend listOmit friend list
• Omit fan pagesOmit fan pages
• Limit the amount ofLimit the amount of
information non-information non-
friends can seefriends can see

22. News Feeds & Wall
Control what is visible toControl what is visible to
friends:friends:
• PostsPosts
• Photo commentsPhoto comments
• Profile changesProfile changes
• Friend changesFriend changes
• Chat activityChat activity

23. Facebook Strives to be Safe
In May 2008, Facebook upgraded safety measures to:In May 2008, Facebook upgraded safety measures to:
• ““Provide automatic safety messages when a child isProvide automatic safety messages when a child is
in danger of giving personal information to anin danger of giving personal information to an
unknown adultunknown adult
• Restrict the ability of users to change their listedRestrict the ability of users to change their listed
agesages
• Act more aggressively to remove inappropriateAct more aggressively to remove inappropriate
content and groups from the sitecontent and groups from the site
• Require third party vendors to adhere to Facebook’sRequire third party vendors to adhere to Facebook’s
safety and privacy guidelines”safety and privacy guidelines”
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/05/facebook_ags.htmlhttp://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/05/facebook_ags.html

24. Online Predators
• Facebook is dedicatedFacebook is dedicated
to keeping kids safeto keeping kids safe
• Over 40 safeguards toOver 40 safeguards to
protect young usersprotect young users
• Keep inappropriateKeep inappropriate
ads off their siteads off their site
• Review user profilesReview user profiles
• Remove improperRemove improper
groupsgroups

25. Social Networking & Safety
Webliography
Facebook SafetyFacebook Safety http://www.facebook.com/safety/http://www.facebook.com/safety/
On Facebook’s own site, this link brings you to their safety policy, tips to followOn Facebook’s own site, this link brings you to their safety policy, tips to follow
when using Facebook, tips for parents to keep their children safe, and frequentlywhen using Facebook, tips for parents to keep their children safe, and frequently
asked questions about safety issues.asked questions about safety issues.
MSNBC: Facebook, States Set Predator SafeguardsMSNBC: Facebook, States Set Predator Safeguards
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24524643/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24524643/
In May, 2008, the Attorney Generals of several states, along with Facebook,In May, 2008, the Attorney Generals of several states, along with Facebook,
announced an agreement that Facebook would add over 40 new safety measures toannounced an agreement that Facebook would add over 40 new safety measures to
protect children from online predators. Included in the article are several changes.protect children from online predators. Included in the article are several changes.
Keep your Facebook Safe:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2333125/kepp-your-facebook-safe
This article outlines how phishers can hack into your Facebook profile and steal
your identity. A review of safety tips and privacy controls is given.

26. Webliography
Facebook Privacy:Facebook Privacy:
http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?timeline#/policy.php?ref=pfhttp://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?timeline#/policy.php?ref=pf
From Facebook’s site, this link brings you to their complete privacy policy. TheFrom Facebook’s site, this link brings you to their complete privacy policy. The
policy outlines how to keep control over your profile information, how theypolicy outlines how to keep control over your profile information, how they
collect information, their policy about children on the site, and their Use ofcollect information, their policy about children on the site, and their Use of
Information Policy.Information Policy.
Federal Trade Commission: Social Networking, Tips for Teens and TweensFederal Trade Commission: Social Networking, Tips for Teens and Tweens
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.shtmhttp://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.shtm
The FTC outlines the reasons why it is important to be diligent about online socialThe FTC outlines the reasons why it is important to be diligent about online social
networking sites. They explain that although you may be adding friends to yournetworking sites. They explain that although you may be adding friends to your
own site, those friends may have friends who are inappropriate for you to know.own site, those friends may have friends who are inappropriate for you to know.
Being interconnected requires diligence on the part of users and their parents.Being interconnected requires diligence on the part of users and their parents.
They offer many tips to keep safe online.They offer many tips to keep safe online.
Safe Families: My Space and Social NetworkingSafe Families: My Space and Social Networking
http://www.safefamilies.org/socialnetworking.phphttp://www.safefamilies.org/socialnetworking.php
A primer for parents which explains exactly what social networking is and whyA primer for parents which explains exactly what social networking is and why
children are drawn to it. They outline the risks of social networking and offer tipschildren are drawn to it. They outline the risks of social networking and offer tips
for parents and children to follow to stay safe online.for parents and children to follow to stay safe online.

27. Webliography
Wikipedia: Social Network ServiceWikipedia: Social Network Service http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networkinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking
Wikipedia gives an overview of social networking and its uses. A listing of theWikipedia gives an overview of social networking and its uses. A listing of the
more popular social networking sites is provided with links to each. The history ofmore popular social networking sites is provided with links to each. The history of
social networking and its benefits and issues is provided.social networking and its benefits and issues is provided.
Social Networking: What is Social Networking? hSocial Networking: What is Social Networking? h
ttp://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/ttp://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/
An entire site dedicated to social networking. This site details how socialAn entire site dedicated to social networking. This site details how social
networking sites help people meet and network, who should join a social networkingnetworking sites help people meet and network, who should join a social networking
site, and how to start a new one.site, and how to start a new one.
MySpace, Facebook, and Other Social Networking Site: Hot Today, GoneMySpace, Facebook, and Other Social Networking Site: Hot Today, Gone
Tomorrow?Tomorrow? http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1463http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1463
Current trends in social networking are discussed in this article from The WhartonCurrent trends in social networking are discussed in this article from The Wharton
School. Safety and privacy concerns are reviewed, as well as emerging technologiesSchool. Safety and privacy concerns are reviewed, as well as emerging technologies
such as connecting to cell phones.such as connecting to cell phones.

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