Saturday, October 15, 2011

Googled and facebooked-2


Second part of the post.......


Facebooked 

The other colossal named Facebook – was perceived to be in line with the google product called orkut. Initially started in a dorm room in Harvard was restricted to the use of Harvard students only, with time it was made accessible to more institutions and later the world alike. What was perceived as a social networking site initially graduated to be the lifeline of the online social world. Besides profile creation and exchange of messages combined additional tools like game sharing, note sharing, approval of a comment/ article in terms of ‘like’. Additionally, users could also join common-interest user groups, organized by workplace, school or college, or other characteristics, and categorize their friends into lists.

It entered into the market at a right time when people were bored of 'Orkut' thus shifting people's base from Orkut to Facebook. At first, it was identified as being complex and difficult to comprehend, but was later transformed into a regular habit. Facebook became the new lifeline of the online social networking arena.
People have found their long lost friends and acquaintances on this social platform. The tool which indicates the 'mutual friends' between two friends sometimes surprises - the world is small indeed! Two people of very different backgrounds and cities who have never met each other in lifetime can be mutual friends with two known friends. A imaginary friend tree is visible virtually.
Surprising as it may sound, but it does garner a lot of speculative expressions like "How do you know him/her?". 

Many re-unions have happened since people have met each other primarily on Facebook

I have observed people talk about facebook at lengths - how this invisible partner has helped the connect with so many people. The gaming took facebook features is one which has drawn many people. Farmville, Cityville, Mafia wars and many more common games are the talk of the town for people who are addicted to it. People talk about these games when they meet in person.
Facebook has infuenced many companies too into its own advertising. The popularity of the website has made sure that each company shares a link on Facebook and has community presence on it. Its a win win situation for both - facebook gets advertised and also the company gets advertised through facebook.

The status updates is one tool which has been of interest to many. Being a very dominant tool on facebook, it is meant to strike to eye of the people on one's list. People have eventually started sharing their lives with their friends by means of these status updates. From a movie review to the schedule of the day to any possible thing get shared - thanks to this tool. It is an incredibly powerful tool. Imagine one wants ti share a piece of information to 400 people at a time - one can do it instantly with status updates. This implement got amazing responses with people flocking to Facebook to mention something that excited them or the event they are looking forward to. Conversely, this tool has also created a new process altogether. People have started thinking in a particular mind which can be updated on facebook. Facebook has thus altered the way one thinks too. For example - a movie or a play seen by someone always runs in the ind of the person unless he/she updates reviews on facebook updates. The 'likes' and comments received on it gathers additional excitement. The status updates became so much an integral part of one's life that updates like ' having tea / coffee' too made their presence felt. People started sharing every damn thing. 

"I will add you on facebook", " Give me updates on facebook", " Lets catch up on facebook", " Lets play on facebook" became the common conversation patterns. The website has influenced the life indeed!!!! Photographs have not been spared too - Special photographs which can be shared on facebook were clicked. Profile pictures and several others were snapped keeping in mind their ultimate destination. 

Movies based on the formation of this social circuit to naming the characters in movies on facebook creates a newer dimesnsion of popularising this online social network. Vodafone recently launched a phone dedicated to this website in special facebook phone. 
Similar to that of Google, Facebook's reach is pan earth, exciting people of all ages. Profiles range from newly born to old people are figured on the website. 

But Facebook has darker and ugly side too. Many cases of crimes are being recorded because of the use of Facebook. The recent norway attacker updated about himself and his crime on facebook. People with terrorist bent of mind too have left their crime updates here. Murders and acts of bashing up people for not 'liking' or commenting in a negative manner to their updates/articles have been increasingly reported.Such is the kind of impact this has on the minds and attitudes of people. As it can 'connect' two people, the ugly innumerable instances suggest that it can 'dis-connect' them too.  

It is on the users to decide on to the usage and kind of usage that they need to associate themselves with. But one thing is for sure, browsing through web world in the current setting has made sure that we are ‘googled and facebooked’.



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