Facebook Group Values

I'm going to bed, I'm tired. Jess T

Socialization

The prime objective for the existence of facebook is socialization. The Facebook format of using "networks" helps provide a baspoint, homebase, or origin for users to begin to build their social network. Commonly, people begin within their school. Now that facebook is open to the public, people can be invited to join regional networks, or occupational networks basedd on a particular company.

• The acqisition of friends is a top priority when building a facebook profile. Having friends guarantees that a user's profile will be seen and responded to, and the more friends one has, the more opportunity for the user's profile to be reacted to.

• Wall writing is the fastest and most frequently used form of communication on the facebook profile. There need not be a particular reason for a comment, but sometimes there is. Humor is used frequently here. Everyone who looks at a user's profile will be able to see their wall comments, unedited.

• Group photos are common in a majority of user profiles. The ability to write captions, place "tags" on someone in photos allows users to showcase their relationships with those in photos and identify other facebook users. Groups of friends will often appear together, having a good time, and all are also facebook users who communicate via facebook with one another.

• Most wall postings are infrequent, with users usually showing up in the recent wall posts (the last ten) only once or twice. Most users are using the wall as a supplement to other forms of communications.

School/Education

• Networks are primarily divided by schools(colleges and high schools), the original Those who do or have attended school have it proudly displayed on the profile, and often, the option to list an individuals major is utilized.

Individualism vs. Collectivism

One of the objectives when constructing the Facebook profile is to showcase personal attributes. There are many pre-made lists to select things like sexual orientation, relationship status, religion, political views, etc, but there are also many ways a user can customize the information they are sharing with the viewer. Music and TV, movies are all reflections of our personality, though a material reflection, they still serve to give the viewer a perception of the person on the profile.

Though the act of distributing frivolous personal trivia to construct an identity on facebook may appear to help set on e apart from the crowd, there are only four fields of entertainment media to fill in, and only a few other options to choose from a drop down life when describing oneself. The fact that your interests become clickable links that link one to other facebook users who listed the same thing denotes belonging to a group.

• Joining Groups lets the user express some of his or her intersts once again, yet remain part of a group that hoilds those some values/interests. A user who does not join any groups could be considered non-participatory. Many groups have no real aim or goal other than to be another representation of a user's affiliation with another set of people. Like networks, and interests, and political views, religion, relationship status, etc, this is another feature used to connect people (more friends) and another place to belong.

• While many groups are inclusive and exist purely for fun, or make light of political situations or divisive issues in a fun way, there are also many groups that are angry about wedge issues or rally around a demonized other.

• Profile photos that do not use a photo of the user may fall under the rhetorical context of desecration. These pictures violate the norms of a personal or group photo of an individual. No photo of the user is going a step further by erasing that visual identity that is so vital to conformity on facebook.

Partying

People on facebook like to make it known when they are having a good time. Numerous wall comments, allusions in the activities field, quotes and even the personal updates are filled with references to alcohol, partying, and just plain old havin' a good time. As far as alcohol is concerned, the consensus between facebook users is that drinking is fun and a positive activity.

• Photos featuring the user engaged in the act of consuming alcohol appear in tagged albums(link), a users own album(link), and even on a users main profile photo(link0.

• Wall comments often allude to "the night before" or "recovery" or "where did you go, with who were you with" and even "what did you drink?"

http://bemidjistate.facebook.com/profile.php?id=136900412 "I'm drunk in my facebook picture" group

 ie. "Jane Doe's taking a night off due to the fact the next 3 she will be SOOO drunk, it should be illegal."

(update)

Participation/Accomplishment

The activities list allow users to display the kinds of things they are involved in. One of the more popilar activites for college students is the participation in sports. Clubs and groups not affiliated with facebook also comprise a big chunk of college age kids activities. Other personal endeavors such as photography, reading, snowmobiling, crochet, and many others are also displayed.

Humor

The subject content for much of wall writing frequently takes the form of cynical remarks, or inside jokes Humor can be seen in the quotes and wall posts of profiles. Many of the humorous quotes come from drunken nights spent with friends, thus they are often remarked upon in the wall posts. Of course there's always those random posts from people who say just one word or write something ridiculously long compared to other wall posts.

Facebook in Context

Hey Dave! would your facebook fall under either non-participant or reconstruction since it's pretty much bare and you seem to only be using it so that you can access information for this project?

Conformity

At least a little something in every area. i.e. basics (hometown, relationship status, etc); Information (interests, quotes); Education; Election 2006; Wall posts; groups; photo albums. example

Non-Participation

People who do not participate in the provided activites on facebook (not using the wall would be sin #1)

Desecration

The most severe form of desecration in the facebook realm involves using alternate photo options other than pictures of ones self, using the interest fiels for something other than the intended label suggests, using false information or writing unusual responses in the religious views field, political views, hometown etc.

Reconstruction

People who use the facebook format in ways other than the intended or accepted utilizations.