Monday, February 6, 2012

February Computer Club: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+

February 6, 2012 Computer Club (2pm): Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn. Overview of top social networking sites.  Why are they so popular?  How are they used?  What are some good examples of Facebook sites?  Why do many people have Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and Twitter accounts?  Why should I jump in (or not) and get my feet wet?
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

Facebook was founded by Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates and fellow computer science students Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes.[8] The website's membership was initially limited by the founders to Harvard students, but was expanded to other colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. It gradually added support for students at various other universities before opening to high school students, and, finally, to anyone aged 13 and over.  On February 1, 2012, it filed its IPO, stock will soon be available, and about a thousand Facebook employees will become millionnaires.
Recommended MOVIE: Social Network.
Features:

ê     Users can create profiles with photos, lists of personal interests, contact information, and other personal information.

ê     Users can communicate with friends and other users through private or public messages and a chat feature.

ê     Users can create and join interest groups and "like pages".

ê     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.

ê     APPS.  See https://www.facebook.com/apps/directory.php (ie, TripAdvisor, SlideShare, Causes, Visual Bookshelf)

ê     KEEPS growing and evolving.

Mashable article about Facebook: http://mashable.com/category/facebook/
Tour, register, create your own Facebook page.

ê     Go to Facebook.com; Register; Create your own page.

Discussion:  Why sign up for an account?  Who has one?  What kind is it?

ê     Stay connected with friends, colleagues, special interests, news
ê     Examples:
ê     http://www.facebook.com/  - note: it is always free; Different language options



Twitter is a social network used by millions of people. Thousands 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 are text-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.

Recommended: The Twitter Guide Book, a complete collection of resources for mastering Twitter. See http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/

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.

ê     Reconnect: “Find past and present colleagues and classmates quickly.”
ê     Career: “Discover inside connections when you’re looking for a job or new business opportunity.”
ê     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.

Google+ is in beta.  It is a networking tool that lets you create circles of friends, so your friends can be in one or more circles and you can share information with designated circles.  For example, you could set up circles for family, friend, computer club, garden club, book club.

You need a Google account and you need to be invited. See https://plus.google.com