2008 Woodie Awards
Facebook vs. MySpace: Why do we think one is 'safer' than the other?
Facebook: Social networking or virtual blackhole
Harry Miller, Director of Information
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Focus
s Facebook a fad? A clique interest? Not likely. Nearly 95% of first year students at the 'berg have Facebook accounts! Most of these students log into their account more than once a day. Communication via Facebook is more popular with these students than communication through traditional email. Actually, their top four means of electronic communication are IM, cellphone calls, text-messaging and Facebook-relegating conventional email to fifth place. Facebook accounted for more than 50% of Muhlenberg campus network traffic during the first week of the fall semester.
So, what is this Facebook? Created by a Harvard undergraduate in 2004, the site has grown quickly. According to Wikipedia, (in December 2005) "… the website had the largest number of registered users among college-focused sites (at over 7.5 million U.S. college student accounts created with an additional 20,000 new accounts being created daily)." Facebook refers to itself as a social networking site.
The site is structured upon 'networks.' To gain access to the Muhlenberg Network, one must create a Facebook account using a valid Muhlenberg College email account (the email account is used to confirm the creation of the Facebook account). Within their Facebook account, students create a profile detailing contact information, personal information (including sexual and political preference), lists of friends, favorite activities, TV shows, movies, books and more. In addition, they can upload pictures and their 'friends' can post pictures of them as well. These pictures are often snaps of social events, parties and random fun.
Is there a potential privacy protection issue somewhere in this sea of information? Indeed. There is a perception that Facebook is 'safe' or 'safer' given the limitation of network membership. Facebook claims to be "… a trusted environment for people to interact safely." This is further challenged by the use of the term 'Friend' in conjunction with often unsolicited invitations to share already-challenged privacy.
So, what is this Facebook? Created by a Harvard undergraduate in 2004, the site has grown quickly. According to Wikipedia, (in December 2005) "… the website had the largest number of registered users among college-focused sites (at over 7.5 million U.S. college student accounts created with an additional 20,000 new accounts being created daily)." Facebook refers to itself as a social networking site.
The site is structured upon 'networks.' To gain access to the Muhlenberg Network, one must create a Facebook account using a valid Muhlenberg College email account (the email account is used to confirm the creation of the Facebook account). Within their Facebook account, students create a profile detailing contact information, personal information (including sexual and political preference), lists of friends, favorite activities, TV shows, movies, books and more. In addition, they can upload pictures and their 'friends' can post pictures of them as well. These pictures are often snaps of social events, parties and random fun.
Is there a potential privacy protection issue somewhere in this sea of information? Indeed. There is a perception that Facebook is 'safe' or 'safer' given the limitation of network membership. Facebook claims to be "… a trusted environment for people to interact safely." This is further challenged by the use of the term 'Friend' in conjunction with often unsolicited invitations to share already-challenged privacy.