Facebook

Facebook

By Kathleen Ostby

Facebook is a social networking site that allows all members to add friends, send messages and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves.  Founded in February of 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook took off in usage among college students.  Originally intended to help students on the Harvard campus connect with each other Facebook has expanded, first to college students, then included high school students in 2005, and now currently takes any members.  It is an organized way to invite people to events, get groups together, find out more about friends, and post pictures and videos.

Facebook is now open internationally and currently has more than 350 million active users worldwide and helps people connect all over the globe, making this world just a bit smaller.  For example, as a member of Facebook I am able to add friends from many other countries, which helps me connect and stay connected with people I’ve met in my life and also makes communication with people who are not in the same city easier and more efficient.  Facebook revolutionized the way people communicate and stay in contact.  Last summer I spent two months in Jacksonville, Florida away from my friends and family and everything I knew.  Facebook helped me stay connected with them because instead of calling each of them and updating them about what was going on in my life I was able to post a note about what was happening and ‘tag’ everyone in it, this way I saved time and was still able to stay connected with family and friends back home. 

Since the launch date Facebook has changed drastically.  Now instead of just being able to communicate with friends and family you are able to play games, use applications and take personality and IQ tests, you are also able to join groups, support causes and view ads on the side of the page that are related directly to you.  Many companies use Facebook to sell to their direct client by placing ads according to what interests the person by learning from their profile which is really helpful for business and PR people.