- The San Mateo Senior Computer Club for March 2011 featured a presentation and discussion of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Presenter was Jackie Siminitus. Below is a copy of the handout.
Overview of social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter. Why are they so popular? How are they used? What are some good examples of Facebook sites? Why do many have both Facebook and Twitter accounts? Why should I jump in (or not) and get my feet wet? What is LinkedIn and should I consider this too?
Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, family, and news of all sorts.
Launched: February 2004
Recommended MOVIE: Social Network. [Storyline: On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history... but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications.]
Features:
- Users can create profiles with photos, lists of personal interests, contact information, and other personal information.
- Users can communicate with friends and other users through private or public messages and a chat feature.
- Users can create and join interest groups and "like pages".
- One of the most popular applications on Facebook is the Photos application, where users can upload albums and photos.[88] Facebook allows users to upload an unlimited number of photos. - KEEPS growing and evolving.
Tour, register, create your own Facebook page.
- Go to Facebook.com; Register; Create your own page.
Discussion: Why to have an account. Who has one? What kind is it?
- Stay connected with friends, colleagues, special interests, news
- Examples:
Twitter is a social network used by millions of people, and thousands more are signing up every day to send short messages to groups of friends. Twitter describes itself as
“a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?”
Tweets aretext-based of up to 140 characters displayed on the user's profile page. Tweets are publicly visible by default; however, senders can restrict message delivery to just their followers. Users may subscribe to other users' tweets – this is known as following and subscribers are known as followers.
Founded: Created in March 21, 2006 in San Francisco as a small group communication tool at Odeo; Spun off as its own company in April 2007.
Discussion: How is it used?
o Twitter for community: friends, family, special interests
o Twitter for business: job-hunting, best brands, customer service
o Twitter for sharing: music, videos, photos
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 80 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects individuals to their trusted contacts and helps them exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.
- Reconnect: “Find past and present colleagues and classmates quickly.”
- Career: “Discover inside connections when you’re looking for a job or new business opportunity.”
- Get Answers: “Your network is full of industry experts willing to share advice.”
Former co-workers, project teams
Interest groups – business, community, special
Company job listings
Apps (of course!)
“Share what you are doing” links to Twitter
Can add links to websites, blogs, etc.
Skype is a free voice and video site purchased by eBay several years ago. Skype is my preferred way to have a live, hands-free discussion while sitting at my computer. With or without the video, the audio is fine when you have a good computer, a broadband Internet connection, and a quiet office. Even if the room is noisy and somewhat chaotic (like a classroom of antsy students or a family reunion), the audio with video is powerful. It is a great way to stay in touch with distant friends and relatives.
