National Institut of Technology Geodetic Engineering

Getting to Know you:

Facebook
Cening Ayu Merta Lidya Rihi Nawa Alifiani

What is Facebook ?
Facebook is advertised as an online directory that connects people through social networks at schools.

Our goal is to help students:

Discern when, where, and for what purposes is the use of this technology appropriate. Understand the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the technology. Address safety concerns and issues. Become aware of the consequences of indiscriminate use Teach use of built-in features such as security setting

Advantages
Establish social connections with students at your school and at institutions across the country Connect with like minded individuals, and individuals with similar interests Stay in contact with old friends

Disadvantages
Facebook and similar websites can become a major distracter from academics. There are limited hours in a day. Time spend online is time taken away from study, extracurricular activities, and other social interactions

Concerns

Students have the opportunity to isolate themselves from opinions and ideas that are challenging or make us uncomfortable. Students can isolate themselves from people who they feel they would rather not know. Students social skills may suffer. Individuals can avoid the discomfort of real-life social interactions

Security Risks
Use caution when posting personal information. Information of a personal nature can make students vulnerable to predators.

Risks
Students online disclosure of illegal activities, such as substance abuse, can be used if students come under investigation for related offenses. Potential employers may use facebook to discover information about students

Concerns

Encourages egocasting Student use stereotypes to describe themselves The information posted may be false and/or misleading Advertisers and marketers may gain the ability to tap into more information about individuals than they have ever had.

Potential Benefits

Student government can share information and keep students up to date on campus issues Student organizations can advertise and connect with among each other and with their members Increase faculty/ student interaction

What We Learned

Facebook is a communication tool that is used daily by a large number of students and faculty and staff could benefit from the ability to reach students quickly, unfortunately there are too many risks involved with using Facebook, and they outweigh the rewards. Facebook can be a useful way to stay in touch with friends and meet new people in a time when technology is such a popular means of communication. I did not know much about Facebook until this project. I was not aware of how students used it and how frequently they do so. I now realize how widespread its use is, and given the shear amount of time and energy that students devote to it, it is bound to affect their lives in some way. Whether positively or negatively, this remains to be seen.