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| Special to The Appalachian |
[Facebook Me]
by Alison Fosbenner
Staff Writer
It’s like an online high school reunion.
Thefacebook.com, “an online directory that connects people through social networks at colleges,” according to the Web site, has become quite an obsession among many Appalachian State University students since the university was added Nov. 24, 2004.
As of press time, there are 5,289 registered Appalachian users.
“I like being able to see people from my high school and even elementary school, like where they are and what they are doing,” freshman theatre arts major Anna C. Gettles said.
The craze all began with Mark Zuckerberg, a student at Harvard University and the founder of thefacebook.com, who originated the idea last winter.
“He wanted to combine an idea for a universal online database with an interactive social networking interface,” co-founder of thefacebook Chris Hughes said. “The idea was sort of an extension of the traditional college facebooks with terrible freshman identification photos and boring information.”
“After a few weeks of work and many late-night dorm room conversations with the rest of us- the four other guys who started out working with [Zuckerberg]- thefacebook was released at Harvard,” Hughes said.
When it all started, the men behind thefacebook desired to have control over information that could be provided to peers, such as their favorites, screen names, classes and other information.
“Thefacebook is a resource for both information and communication, but at the same time, is fun to use,” Hughes said.
Today, this online community for college students connects approximately 400 supported schools, from Arizona State University to Yale University.
There is no limit to the number of schools that can be added.
“We’re trying to add as many as possible as quickly as possible,” Hughes said.
Registered students and alumni of any of the supported schools can connect for free.
“We never imagined it would blow up like this,” Hughes said. “It’s blossomed from a product of late-night dorm room conversations to a serious Web site.”
Thefacebook is much more than simply a college directory.
Hughes touched on several of the advantages to their creation.
“Finding out more information about your friends, exchanging messages, building groups, birthday reminders, your friends’ phone numbers [are] only a click away,” he said.
What if you like playing basketball? Type that into the interests section, click on the link and see how many other Appalachian students share that same interest.
Just when it appeared classmates from middle school and high school were gone forever, think again.
Now, anyone can connect and keep in touch via thefacebook with everyone from the past.
Students can also connect to more than just your close friends. There are groups, from Greek organizations and campus clubs to random homemade groups, including, “The Infirmary Is Really Sketchy,” “ASU Out of State,” “Mac Users” and “Baywatch Enthusiasts.”
The “poke” option has raised a few curious eyebrows among many students. The poke option allows registered members to “poke” anybody they choose.
“[Poking is] anything the users make it out to be,” Hughes said.
Like almost anything else, there will always be those who are against popular trends.
Beau Winslow, a sophomore English and French major, is currently on an “anti-technology binge.”
Winslow refuses to have any connection to thefacebook.
“It is a [lame] way to keep in touch,” Winslow said. “I’d rather write a letter or see someone in person than communicate over thefacebook.”
Privacy has become a concern among thefacebook users and those against it.
“It is built for stalkers and creepy people,” Winslow said.
Hughes and the gang see it differently.
“Young adults are more Internet-savvy than you think they are,” Hughes said. “In general, I feel like our users are able to responsibly choose for themselves the level of privacy they are most comfortable with. Our privacy options are extensive enough that they have a wide degree of control over who can access their information.”
Hughes sees the Web site’s versatility as a reason for its popularity.
“Different students use thefacebook in different ways, but in general, our users return to the site to find information on their peers, to make connections with friends and acquaintances and to communicate with one another,” Hughes said. “It’s a reference tool and a means for communication. I think that combination, and the fact that it’s fun to use, keeps people coming back.”
To keep users interested, thefacebook creators are planning for the future, starting with the continuation of expanding the number of schools.
“Alongside general expansion, we’ll review and update the features that we have and add new ones,” Hughes said.
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