Online Social Networking
Facebook is a social network that “helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers” (Facebook, para. 1, 2011). Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg and co-founders Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes, and Eduardo Saverin. The four launched Facebook from their Harvard dorm room in February 2004. The site was originally created for Harvard University students only. Then between 2005 and 2006 the site expanded to high school and work networks before finally allowing free access to all Internet users. The Facebook website is home to more than 750 million active users (350 million users currently access Facebook from their mobile devices). The site consists of user profiles, news feeds, photos, events, videos, and groups. Once a users profile is created, they are given the option to “search” for their friends who are already on Facebook or request their contacts to join the social networking site. Once two people become “friends” their profiles as well as their entire social network are disclosed to each other. One’s profile can display their personal information such as interests, contact information, educational, and professional background. Facebook also allows its users to communicate with one another through Chat, personal messages, wall posts, pokes, and status updates. The use of Facebook has spread rapidly through the United States and other parts of the world. More than 75% of Facebook’s users are outside of the United States. Facebook is offered in 70 other languages aside from English (Facebook, 2011).
Like most people around the world the members of our team use Facebook to connect with family members near and far away. Facebook is a way for people to share photos and thoughts with each other over the Internet. This site is accessed daily to find new and old friends. Facebook users also log on to the site so that they can share different stories and pictures from around the world. People can...