Facebook with a new look

I got the pleasure last week of seeing everyones status on Facebook complaining about the changes to Facebook.  I looked around and apparently mine hadn't updated yet.  My roomate was about the only one who wasn't complaining about the new Facebook.  He didn't mind it because to him nothing really changed.  The reason I always hate when Facebook makes changes is because that is exactly what it is.  It's a change that we're not used to, and I think that's why we don't like it.  After about a week, people are so used to it by now that they don't even notice it.  People are always complaining in their statuses about Facebook changing, and it got kinda old, so i decided when I finally got the new Facebook I would give it a chance.  Facebook even made a page of "I like the new Facebook".  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2208207917

Finally, just the other day my Facebook changed when I signed on.  I got the new changes to Facebook.  The first thing I noticed was the events scrolling constantly on top of the friends online list.  I thought that was somewhat cool, because it showed everyone commenting, or adding friends.  It even showed things friends would write on their friends wall, even if you aren't friends with that person.  The other thing I really liked was the uploaded pictures.  If someone adds pictures to their profile, it shows them very clear, and larger on the home page.  There are many other additions to Facebook, and here is a link explaining all of them.  http://waldo.villagesoup.com/business/brief/online/a-sneak-peek-at-the-new-facebook/451832

After using the new Facebook for a couple days the only thing I could think of that I'm not too sure about is the "ticker".  This is the scrolling of everything people are doing on Facebook.  I think it might be crossing the line of privacy a little.  If you want to make a comment on a picture of a friend, everyone gets to see that because it shows up on the ticker.  Im not so sure if I like that, but it definately catches my attention while im on. Most of the complaints that came on statuses is about that ticker.  Here is a link of people talking about the ticker. http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-ticker-kill-2011-09 Overall, I do not mind the new facebook.

Twitter all its tweeted up to be?

Everyone has told me how much I need to get Twitter.  All my friends tell me it's way better than facebook, and how I'll hardly ever check my facebook after getting Twitter.  I had to get twitter anyways because our baseball coach here at Valley City told us we had to so he could talk to us easier.  I figured this was my perfect opportunity to get into Twitter, and see what all the hype is about.

My first day in Twitter I thought it was pretty cool.  I added some professional athletes, and quite a bit of Minnesota Twins players, which I thought was pretty cool.  However, after a couple days, I found it pretty boring.  There is nothing to do on Twitter.  It was fun seeing athletes I looked up to, seeing what they were saying.  However, that's all it is.  I went on there and literally didn't know what to do after that.  I still have yet to see what all the hype is about.

Computers in the Classrom

I am a junior transfer from a junior college.  When I heard we were getting laptops at Valley City I was super pumped, especially since my current laptop is pretty old and cheap.  We can Google things we aren't sure about.  Or perhaps listen to music or check your Facebook if there is some down time.  However, I am probably one of the few people that think it is a bad idea to have a laptop in the classroom.  According to http://www.temple.edu/lss/htmlpublications/spotlights/200/spot206.htm, using a computer in the classroom is very beneficial.

I am a guy who gets distracted pretty easily.  Yes, everyone in college is an adult, and is expected to pay attention to the class instead of what is on your computer, and the computer is there for help in the classroom, or taking notes.  However, for me it is just a distraction.  If my computer isn't closed in the classroom, I am doing something unproductive on it.  I was loving the first week of school, because the classes seemed like they were flying by.  Then the next week quizzes came out, and I had no idea what was going on.  I had become behind in every class because I was so distracted by my computer I hadn't paid any attention to what was going on in the lecture.  The following site talks about how addictive Facebook is and how we can't get our minds off of it.    http://socialtimes.com/facebook-addiction-disorder-the-6-symptoms-of-f-a-d_b60403

Im sitting there thinking "Come on Andy, put the computer away and pay attention like everyone else."  I then looked around and saw Facebook on 4 out of every 5 computers.  It's not just me who is easily distracted by computers.  I am 100 percent in belief they were given to us to help us in school, and they can be very helpful.  However, I am definately ok with going back to the old fashioned highschool, taking notes with a pencil and a notebook.  I bought several notebooks and pencils for this semester, and I literally have not had to use either one.  I haven't even had an assignment to take home to do.  Everything is used on the computer.  This just took some time getting used to since the last college I was at did nothing with computers.  This site talks about this advantages and disadvantages of using computers in the classroom. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080712164252AA1iB7Y

Youtube is the best thing since sliced bread

    I love youtube.  I use it when I need a laugh.  All I need to do is type in "funny" in the search box, and millions of funny videos come up.  I'm also a major movie guy, so if i want to watch trailers for an upcoming movie, this is where I go to watch them.  Youtube has also basically my new itunes.  If a song is made, there is about a 99.9 percent chance that it will be on youtube.  Just last night, I was watching the roast of Charlie Sheen.  A girl made a joke on there to Steve-o about his recently killed friend Ryan Dunn in a car crash.  She said "I know what you were thinking steve-o like "why wasn't it me who died in that crash" and trust me we all wish it was."  The crowd gasped for air and noone really laughed and it showed steve-o's face and there was just a blank stair in his eyes.  My friend and I looked at each other and thought wow that was too far.  When the show was over, I went on Youtube and typed in "Roast of Charlie Sheen Ryan Dunn joke" and only thirty minutes after it was made, not only was it on Youtube, but it already had over 4,000 views.

    Everyone loves youtbe, and it is used constantly.  There are over 2 billion videos viewed every day.  Over 35 hours of video are uploaded to youtube every minute.  These statistics came from the following site. http://www.reelseo.com/youtube-statistics/ It is just a great overal site, and is a form of social media.  You can also record something and put it on youtube yourself.  I highly recommend people who are not informed about youtube to give it a try, because I think you will love it.
   

Children and the internet

The internet has become a place for anything and everything.  If you have a question about something, there is Google.  If you want to watch a video about literally anything, there is Youtube.  If you want to communicate with your friends and see what they're up to, there is Facebook.  These are three most popular sites on the web.  http://mostpopularwebsites.net/.  With the right tools, a person can access anything using the internet.  People use the internet regardless of age, young and old.  This however can pose as a problem.  Is the internet a safe place for children?

Most of us have heard of the Dateline NBC show called "How to Catch a Predator", and the famous catchline from Chris Hanson, "Why don't you have a seat over here" to the predators the catch as they walk in the door.  The reason these people, usually older men, walk in the door is to meet, and have sexual activities with a person in the age range of 12-14 years old.  I did say they meet a person, not just a young girl, because there have been many cases where an older man comes to meet and engage in sexual activities with a young boy.  Both young boys and girls are not safe on the internet without being properly taught how to use the interent safely. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10912603/.   This site is from dateline nbc and talks about how unsafe the internet can be.  These people see it happen in front of their eyes, everyday.

Let's be honest, its inevitable that children are going to use the internet.  They have to sooner or later, especially for school.  http://www.teachkidshow.com/teach-your-child-how-to-use-the-internet/  The web page I posted here is steps on how to teach children to use the internet safely.  There are definately things they need to stear way clear of, and maybe hold off of Facebook for awhile.  My mom teaches second grade, and just the other day one of her students friend requested me on Facebook.  I'm sorry, one I am twenty years old and do things a second grader should not see.  If he see's pictures of me getting drunk with all my friends, and he looks up to me what do you think he is going to think about alcohol.  Even things like facebook could seem harmless for a child to have, but it definately is not.

Facebook becoming addictive?

    As everyone knows, especially after being in this class for a week, media is now a huge factor in our lives.  We absolutely love to be able to go on our phones and looking at things such as the weather, is only a few seconds away.  However, are things like this taking over our lives?  Facebook is a huge new media that almost everyone has.  "Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004" according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook.  As of July 2011, Facebook has over 750 million users, and it is being used worldwide.  It is most active among highschoolers and college students, but has such a wide age variety, as my 8 year old cousin and my 75 year old grandma  both have facebook.  However, has facebook become so addictive it's taking over our lives?
    Facebook has become very addictive in our society.  For a lot of people, if they aren't on Facebook, they are thinking about it.  I will be one of the first to admit that I love my Facebooking.  My excuse is I love to be socail with people, and Facebook gives me an excuse to keep in touch with people, and that's how I use it.  Even while writting this blog I got distracted because I checked my Facebook.  It is just flat out addictive, and I'm not really sure why.  However for some people, it has crossed that line.  There have been numerous reports of child neglect because his or her parents couldn't get off of it.  "Last Friday, I had three clients in my office with Facebook problems," said Paula Pile, a marriage and family therapist in Greensboro, North Carolina. "It's turned into a compulsion -- a compulsion to dissociate from your real world and go live in the Facebook world." http://articles.cnn.com/2009-04-23/health/ep.facebook.addict_1_facebook-page-facebook-world-social-networking?_s=PM:HEALTH.  So why is Facebook so addictive that it has literally ruined peoples lives?
    I just read a story about a lady called an old friend from highschool, and the husband answered the phone and said his wife was too busy to talk, because she was too deep in Facebook, and had been for several hours.  Husband reports that when his wife is on Facebook, she is close to being unresponsive.  Reports say it's so addictive because it's a great way to keep up with old friends, show photos of fun trips, or just everyday activities with your friends.  Facebook is not only that.  Now it has quizzes, games, pokes I mean the list goes on and on, and has become an everyday activity. http://www.thematrixfiles.net/blog/why-is-facebook-so-addictive/.
    All in all, I think Facebook is a great new media.  I love being able to catch up with people.  There are many friends I would never ever talk to if it wasn't for Facebook.  I am just saying that it needs to be kept under control, and maybe not spend every waking minute on it.