Facebook Status Updates of Suspence and the 2008 Election

While the countdown is on for the 2008 election, my friends facebook status updates are out of control. While on a normal basis, there are few updates every now and then, now every minute there are countless updates concerning the election. Everyone is tuned in to the election and voicing their opinion through social media outlets. They are using facebook as a their voice.

As the electoral votes are being counted, the updates are saying swaying both way and saying things like, "cant believe socialism is coming to the USA... here is to four long terrible years under the reign of Obama bin Laden"; "is moving to Europe...far away from Osama"; "ready for our new pres obama"; "is completely disturbed by the comments made by the people who i grew up with in Houston... Ignorance is not necessary... be happy you're witnessing HISTORY!"; "is contemplating about moving to Mexico..."

Also, personally watching the election coverage on abc news right now, they just showed a clip of live facebook feed. Facebook is so large, that its even being shown in the live election for the President of the United States. This form of technology is aiding in the history of the United States of America. It almost seems surreal and unbelieveable. I don't think the creator Mark Zuckerberg would ever have imagined the extent of facebook and impact it has when he created it.

Twitter vs. Facebook Status Updates

Yesterday in class, we learned about the social media technology of Twitter. Honestly, prior to class I only heard of it. I had no clue how it functioned. In order to follow along with the lecture, I decided to sign up for my own Twitter. The first thing it asked me was, "What are you doing?" This seemed suprisingly familiar. To my suprise Twitter seemed like a facebook application. I felt like it was just a whole bunch of "status updates." Just like when I log into facebook and update my status for all my friends to see, I can do it hear as well. I didn't really see the point. A whole social media based on status updates? Ok?? But as the lecture progressed, we were told that there is more benefit to it then just whats a face value. Twitter is also beneficial for political candidates to let their followers know where they are and what they are doing/planning to do. I'm more open to the media now, but I don't think I will be using its services anytime soon.

No more facebook beacon please!

This past week we discussed the facebook beacon situation. When facebook set up a system that posted personal information about purchases individuals made on other websites and posted them on their feed, this created a big problem. I know that I would not want my personal purchases flaunted on the internet for everyone to see. This situation became very interesting to me when we were told about the guy who bought a wedding ring for his soon to be fiance on overstock.com and had everyone suprisingly congratulate him before he even proposed. How awful!! I would feel so enraged that I would want to sue! Although he really couldn't do anything about it because of the tiny disclaimers that you never realy even notice. What a situation! Well needless to say the whole facebook beacon situation made it to the newsroom and was taken care of. Although they do not want to completely do away with it, they are altering it. This doesn't make sense. Why alter it? Why not completley trash it? I feel more facebook protesting in the near future.

Privacy matters

For a couple weeks now we have been discussing the importance of having a clean facebook profile due to the fact that unexpected others can take a peek at our profiles unwarranted. This is for serious prospects for your future such as someone who may be highering you for a job and other serious commitments.

When we had the guest speaker in class she mentioned that we can limit our facebook profiles and other social medias to only allow certain people access to our profiles. All this talk about proofing our names on the Internet has me nervous. I immediately went home from class and set up as many restrictions I could. It is kind of scary knowing that your future can possibly be determined what you thought was one night of fun with your girlfriends out on the town (just for example). I still wonder that even if you set up restrictions to only allowing certain people access to your information if people can still get around it? Is social media really beneficial or harmful?


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How to protect your privacy on facebook