Journal #7
In Your Face: HOW FACEBOOK COULD CRUSH MYSPACE, YAHOO!, AND GOOGLE
By Christopher Beam

The article introduces Facebook, a social networking site similar to
Myspace, which has the potential of becoming just as comprehensive as
Yahoo and as popular as Myspace if it adds e-mail, instant messenger, and
RSS. One of the benefits to Facebook is it is clean of spam and easily
navigable. The issue is that Facebook has several add-on applications that
are fun but not useful such as “Graffiti Walls” which allows you to draw
on your friends sites, and “Honesty Box” which allows you to remain
anonymous while telling your friend what you really think about them. For
the site to be successful it needs to have applications like e-mail,
relative news, instant messenger and RSS. In the article it states
something to the effect that if Facebook adds these applications, users
would not have to surf the web because Facebook would be the supernet. I
am a Myspace user and can honestly say that it is convenient for me to use
because of the easy access to e-mail, and instant messenger. However one
of my biggest complaints would be all of the spam mail. The cool thing
about the site is that you are able to customize it and block certain
users from it. Another down fall to the networking site is the easy access
hackers have into your page. Since I have been a member I have had to
change my password four times as a result of hackers getting in and
refiguring my site. I am curious to see the outcome of Facebook have it
add on the desired applications. If it is successful I would be willing to
try it out. One of the major selling points is being free of spam and
easily navigable. The movement in technology is both fascinating and
scaring.

1.How would you use Facebook in your classroom?

If I were to use Facebook in my classroom I would have the students create a page and have it set to private so that it will be closed off to the public. Then I would create assignments that require my students to use applications in Facebook like blogs, internet research, e-mail and instant messenger and enable them to use their peers as good resources when working on their projects, and assignments.

2.If Facebook adds-on the desired applications mentioned above, do you believe that it has the potential to become a supernet?

There is always the possibility; however, it seems too good to be true. A social network that is spam free, has all the desired applications, and easily navigable. I really do not know until it happens and I have the chance to use it.