CHAPTER 9 SOCIAL NETWORKS Facebook, Ning, Connections, and Communities

Social Networks  A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on the building of social networks or social relations among people who, for example, share interests, activities, backgrounds, or real-life connections. A social network service consists of a representation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, and a variety of additional services. Most social network services are web-based and provide means for users to interact over the Internet, such as and instant messaging. Online community services are sometimes considered as a social network service, though in a broader sense, social network service usually means an individual-centered service whereas online community services are group-centered. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, activities, events, and interests within their individual networks.

Examples of Personal Social Network Connections  Facebook.com  Blackplanet.com  Myspace.com  Twitter.com  Instagram  Bebo.com  Hi5.com

 Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates and fellow Harvard University students Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. The website's membership was initially limited by the founders to Harvard students, but was expanded to other colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. It gradually added support for students at various other universities before opening to high school students, and eventually to anyone aged 13 and over.

The Movie Social Network Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg who creates the social networking website that would become known as Facebook, but is later sued by two brothers who claimed he stole their idea, and the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business. 

Facebook in the classroom  While some teachers don’t seem to have any problem about “friending” their student, I would advise against it. Make it clear to your classes that your use of Facebook is “interest base’ not “friendship-based”, and make sure you articulate your reasons for choosing Facebook as a networking space.

 Ning is an online platform for people and organizations to create custom social networks, launched in October Ning offers customers the ability to create a community website with a customized appearance and feel, feature sets such as photos, videos, forums and blogs, and the service layers in support for “Like”, integration with Facebook, Twitter, Google and Yahoo!. Ning, Inc. is owned by Glam Media and, the operating company, has its headquarters in Palo Alto, California.

Ning in the classroom  In the book it shows It shouldn’t be too hard to see potential for Ning sites in the classroom or for a school community. In fact, a lot of teachers and administrators are already pretty far down the road to making Ning a valued part of their practice, including not just students and teachers but parents and community members as well.

Creating a NING Account

Include the Necessary Information

You Will Arrive at Your Profile Home Page

Here you can upload a new profile photo, limit access to your profile, or add additional information.

At your home page, you can create a new social network site.

Name Your Site and Address

Your Ning Site Set Up

Thee End