Introduction To Facebook: Opportunities and Challenges For The Institution

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Introduction To Facebook:Opportunities and Challenges For The Institution

Brian KellyUK Web FocusUKOLNUniversity of BathBathEmailB.Kelly@ukoln.ac.uk

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Aims of this talkThis talk aims to provide an introduction to Facebook by looking at what it is and how it is being used.The potential of Facebook to support various activities within the institution will be explored, together with potential problem areas.The talk will lead into general discussion.

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Contents• What Is Facebook?• Examples of usage• Facebook: the opportunities• Facebook: the challenges• Questions• Discussion

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What is Facebook?Facebook is:

• a social networking Web site

• had the largest number of registered users among college-focused sites with over 30 million members worldwide

• ranked between top 10–20 web sites

• seventh most visited site in the US

From Wikipedia

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Note that I provide public information, but not personal details

Getting StartedWhen you register you can provide information about yourself:

• Personal details

• Contact details• Interests• …

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Your Profile PageHere’s an example of a profile page:

• Your details• Access to default

applications • Access to applications

your addedFacebook could be used as a personalised portal to various applications

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Your Profile PageHere’s an example of a profile page:

• Your details• Access to default

applications • Access to applications

your addedFacebook could be used as a personalised portal to various applications

And here’s how others may see your profileBoring isn’t it!

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It’s a Social Network (1)The strength of Facebook is when it is used as a social network. Here people can see:

• My updates to my Facebook account

• Applications I’ve installed

• Groups I’ve joined• Photos & videos I’ve

uploaded• Blogs posts I’ve written• Messages I’ve sent &

received• …

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It’s a Social Network (2)Here’s the page of a former colleague (now at Eduserv). This is valuable to me:

• Spot friends in common

• Keep informed of Andy’s professional interests (of interest to me)

• Keep informed of Andy’s discussions with others

• …

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Student Use (1)Example of groups subscribed by a student:

• Student society

Facebook seems to be very popular for use withStudent union societies (nb is this a threat to similar services provided on Student Union Web site?)

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Student Use (1)Example of groups subscribed by a student:

• Student society

Notice how the issue of local versus global Facebook groups is being discussed. Would a local-only group act as a barrier to student alumni?

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Student Use (2)Example of groups subscribed by a student:

• Student society• Social

Facebook is popular for various social activities – especially for keeping in touch over summer

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Student Use (2)Example of groups subscribed by a student:

• Student society• Social

Note that Facebook provides access to videos and photos – a way of providing seamless access or a bandwidth hog?

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The OpportunitiesFacebook provides great opportunities for the Universities:

• It’s popular• It’s easy-to-use• No need for in-house development or to purchase

software• Useful for staff and post-graduate students too• We can easily integrate our resources into

Facebook (e.g. RSS feeds, blogs, etc.)• It can provide alternative access to our services

cf. MyNewport portal which took a day to port to Facebook

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What Others Are DoingMyNewport:

• VLE/portal used by staff & students (course material, news, blogs, forums, etc.)

• Facebook app allows students to access to MyLearning resources

• Allows students to create their own personal learning environment in a platform other than the University’s

Facebook targeted as it’s the fastest growing communityIf the users like idea but want to work in another environment then that is fine

See info on UK Web Focus blog& Michael Webb’s (IT Services director at Newport College) blog

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What’s The Downside?

Various concerns have been expressed about:• Privacy (is Facebook a private or public space?)• Is Facebook a space for students or for all?• Is Facebook a closed environment?• …

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The Challenges (1)Facebook can provide challenges for the institutionIT Service departments, for example, are always liable to receive criticismsThese days as well as User Group meetings and online forums, users can create their own discussion groups

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The Challenges (2)How should the departments respond?

• Read the posts to gain feedback on areas in which improvements may be needed?

• Join in the discussions

• Ban such discussions / people who make inappropriate comments?

• Ignore the groups

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The Challenges (3)Note though:• Departments may find support being provided on the discussion groups

• There will always be criticism

Do our (fee-paying) students have a right to watch “crap on YouTube” What if this slows network down? How does the university engage in discussions on this topic with the students?

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Other IssuesThere are also challenges for individuals

What if this group I’ve joined isn’t about nos. of UK Facebook users, but a BNP support group?

A friend has joined a group which advocates violence!

Note that Facebook isn’t a local University service, so it can’t be banned. Is this were we need education (for staff as well as students)?

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You Can Manage Your PrivacyYou have control over the information others can see about you

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You Can Manage Your PrivacyYou have control over the information others can see about youBut how many users change the default settings?

And what about what Facebook can do with your information? Note that Wikipedia provides useful information on Facebook’s terms and conditions

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Terms & ConditionsHave you read the terms and conditions?

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Terms & ConditionsHave you read the terms and conditions?It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor Agreement

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Terms & ConditionsHave you read the terms and conditions?It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor AgreementBut how might Facebook reuse your information?

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Terms & ConditionsHave you read the terms and conditions?It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor AgreementBut how might Facebook reuse your information? And how might they share it with others?

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Terms & ConditionsHave you read the terms and conditions?It’s good that they comply with the Safe Harbor AgreementBut how might Facebook reuse your information? And how might they share it with others?And what’s their policy of changing their policy, security, etc?

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What Do My Friends Think?A question I asked on Facebook: Facebook: (a) institutions need to engage with it as our students like it or (b) its their social space; let's leave it alone?

Responses from my Facebook friends, 1 Aug 2007

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Some ThoughtsFacebook:

• We can’t ignore it!So should we:

• Leave it for students to use as they see fit?• Allow departments to use as they see fit?• Make formal use of it?

In all scenarios how should we:• Address privacy concerns for the students (and

staff)?• Address the issue of whether the university should

respond to criticisms?• Address our needs to protect the integrity of the

institution? • Provide advice, training, etc. on best practices?

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QuestionsAny questions?