A group of kids through Facebook started what ended up to be the most amazing social phenomena on February 4 2008 in Colombia, South America – a “third world country” with low Internet penetration and not too many people who speak English (Facebook doesn’t have a Spanish version yet).
An estimated 4.8 million people marched against a rebel group in Colombia and thousands more in hundreds of cities around the world: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/02/04/colombia.demos.ap/index...
Amazingly powerful tool!
Not so sure this calls for agreement. Facebook has its roots in a college environment it's true, but now that the site has opened itself up to the general public, the demographic and the mores are shifting – adults are communicating with each other as well as with teenagers, making their own rules about what sort of content they post and respond to. It's like a group of adults moving to a small college town and then slowly creating their own space within it…
I'm an adult (although some would disagree!) but I don't consider using myself using Facebook (now blocked at my work because of Cyberskiving / and as a result of the proliferation of malicious software being distributed?!!? / high risk to the company?!?!??!) as adapting to teenagers rules just because of where it started out and who it was originally made for. I would and always do embrace new technology, especially the much overhyped 2.0 & enterprise stuff, if I could benefit from it and hopefully always will. P/S I love Bill Thompson he's great.
The most important change I've noticed from Facebook is that it breaks down the barrier between public and private personas, something which most Americans over the age of 40 are keenly aware of.
Facebook is a software platform
to participate - one follows its structure
and in doing so - create the illusion of commonality.
The key generational clash is in the degree of trust people have for sharing their 'private' lives with their 'friends'. Remember FB started out as college platform - and we were all into bragging about things that did or didn't happen.
Fastforward to the OpenSocial/DataPortability framework and everyone now begins to assert greater control over their private, semi-public and public data staying just ahead of the FCC's questions of data privacy.
I wonder if its time to create a replacement for the Infinite Money hypothesis - to take into account our opposable thumbs and iPods.
There was an initial awkwardness using FaceBook. I immediately jumped in with apps and groups. I became rapidly overwhelmed with zombie attacks and beers. I felt foolish at 60 to begin playing these games. I stopped and found those groups and friends that I wanted to be with and jettisoned everything else. Now I control my apps and solicitations from others. It has worked out. I chuckle at some of the antics I read in the news but do not participate. Stick in the mud? Maybe but these are my rules.
My siblings and myself (all in our twenties) use Facebook constantly to communicate. Our Dad finally joined as he felt he was a little out of the loop. That's great although now it sometimes feels as if we have to watch what we do on Facebook, the grownups are watching now.
Rules? The only rule is be you. The digital space's rules aren't any different than you'd be expected to act/participate at a cocktail party/gathering at ANY age. Where there's a mix of friends and strangers - there is an etiquette communicative people follow. The digital space is just the same. People continue proselytizing as if there is some secret formula. There isn't. Just be cool.
Facebook is about the latest evolution of social networking and open-sourcing content. The only rule is "try to keep up or get left behind." That rule applies to teenagers and adults alike.
Facebook is one of several places where the phenomenon of an 'IT call for help' is much in evidence. It's a shame that the youth of today, and increasingly so, adults, prefer to talk tech rather than talk face-to-face. The internet is a great creation, but life is still lived person-to-person. Cheers. Will Potter.
Comments | 13 Total
February 8, 2008 at 8:16am by Miguel Vasquez
A group of kids through Facebook started what ended up to be the most amazing social phenomena on February 4 2008 in Colombia, South America – a “third world country” with low Internet penetration and not too many people who speak English (Facebook doesn’t have a Spanish version yet).
An estimated 4.8 million people marched against a rebel group in Colombia and thousands more in hundreds of cities around the world: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/02/04/colombia.demos.ap/index...
Amazingly powerful tool!
February 8, 2008 at 12:07pm by Saabira Chaudhuri
Not so sure this calls for agreement. Facebook has its roots in a college environment it's true, but now that the site has opened itself up to the general public, the demographic and the mores are shifting – adults are communicating with each other as well as with teenagers, making their own rules about what sort of content they post and respond to. It's like a group of adults moving to a small college town and then slowly creating their own space within it…
February 8, 2008 at 12:24pm by Jeff Schmidt
ARPAnet was the first social network - even though you couldn't poke anyone's funwall
February 8, 2008 at 5:04pm by Tim Tymchyshyn
is it? every generation breaks the rules of the previous
February 8, 2008 at 5:47pm by Simon Edwards
I'm an adult (although some would disagree!) but I don't consider using myself using Facebook (now blocked at my work because of Cyberskiving / and as a result of the proliferation of malicious software being distributed?!!? / high risk to the company?!?!??!) as adapting to teenagers rules just because of where it started out and who it was originally made for. I would and always do embrace new technology, especially the much overhyped 2.0 & enterprise stuff, if I could benefit from it and hopefully always will. P/S I love Bill Thompson he's great.
February 8, 2008 at 6:41pm by Paul Denlinger
The most important change I've noticed from Facebook is that it breaks down the barrier between public and private personas, something which most Americans over the age of 40 are keenly aware of.
Now, this distinction is quickly disappearing.
February 8, 2008 at 9:02pm by miro slodki
Facebook is a software platform
to participate - one follows its structure
and in doing so - create the illusion of commonality.
The key generational clash is in the degree of trust people have for sharing their 'private' lives with their 'friends'. Remember FB started out as college platform - and we were all into bragging about things that did or didn't happen.
In recent PEW and UK studies (see http://www.canadianmarketingblog.com/archives/2008/01/the_digital_footpr...) the key finding was that the 'youth' had no appreciation for the possible consequences of having an open diary.
Fastforward to the OpenSocial/DataPortability framework and everyone now begins to assert greater control over their private, semi-public and public data staying just ahead of the FCC's questions of data privacy.
I wonder if its time to create a replacement for the Infinite Money hypothesis - to take into account our opposable thumbs and iPods.
Miro Slodki
February 8, 2008 at 10:48pm by Matthew Sibenik
There was an initial awkwardness using FaceBook. I immediately jumped in with apps and groups. I became rapidly overwhelmed with zombie attacks and beers. I felt foolish at 60 to begin playing these games. I stopped and found those groups and friends that I wanted to be with and jettisoned everything else. Now I control my apps and solicitations from others. It has worked out. I chuckle at some of the antics I read in the news but do not participate. Stick in the mud? Maybe but these are my rules.
February 9, 2008 at 7:53pm by Greg Clinton
I don't see the teenagers putting up with the walls of the "walled garden" for long. Viva OpenSocial. Viva OpenID.
February 9, 2008 at 8:51pm by Devin Anderson
My siblings and myself (all in our twenties) use Facebook constantly to communicate. Our Dad finally joined as he felt he was a little out of the loop. That's great although now it sometimes feels as if we have to watch what we do on Facebook, the grownups are watching now.
February 10, 2008 at 11:53am by Tom Ajello
Rules? The only rule is be you. The digital space's rules aren't any different than you'd be expected to act/participate at a cocktail party/gathering at ANY age. Where there's a mix of friends and strangers - there is an etiquette communicative people follow. The digital space is just the same. People continue proselytizing as if there is some secret formula. There isn't. Just be cool.
February 10, 2008 at 3:55pm by Tim Milburn
Facebook is about the latest evolution of social networking and open-sourcing content. The only rule is "try to keep up or get left behind." That rule applies to teenagers and adults alike.
February 10, 2008 at 8:42pm by Will Potter
Facebook is one of several places where the phenomenon of an 'IT call for help' is much in evidence. It's a shame that the youth of today, and increasingly so, adults, prefer to talk tech rather than talk face-to-face. The internet is a great creation, but life is still lived person-to-person. Cheers. Will Potter.