The phenomenon that is FACEBOOK!

Social networking has seem to become quite a big interest of mine as it has become such a quick and largely growing industry phenomenon.
I've highlighted Mark Elliot Zuckerberg facebook ( launched in 2004) as I've never been one for sharing all my details with random people online but even I find myself using it!

I remember when I started University ( 3 years ago) teachers and students suggest we all join this website as it was not a public networking site but a private network mainly for university students, so I thought yeah why not it;s a good way of getting in touch people on my course etc.

Since those three years it has become a world wide public site and anyone of any age can join( so yeah its like any other social networking site)!
Well no, the speed in which facebook has grown is immense in comparison to similair sites such as bebo and myspace which have been around for years. The publicity facebook has developed is massive, I think this is only website that has developed mass awareness in a positive way. I would say its one of the most most popular and commonly used site with people having their parents as friends!

Even having a separate facebook application on the iphone and blackberry goes over my head.





Large companies, organisations and business's are using facebook as a platform for promotion and advertising with links like ' find us on facebook' and setting up their own facebook groups and pages which allowing the general public to 'join' groups or 'become' fans.


Ive seen facebook used in product placement through different forms of media, through song a more commonly the TV. For example I was watching Hollyoaks ( not the most broad porgram, I know) and they were discussing facbook updates.




I often find myself hearing and reading terms such as 'facebooking' ' facebook stalking' and 'facebook raped'. When did something like rape become a part of popular culture?

I've got a few questions that I think I need to research

Is some like facebook and social networking going to take over meeting up with someone and having a real chat face to face?
What is peoples need to social networking?
Is it craze or do people have a real dependancy to it, if so why?
Is social networking bringing about a whole new language?

Social media in plain english.

leelefever and it is described as:

A short explanation of social networking websites and why they are popular.
This video comes in an unbranded "presentation quality" version that can be licensed for use in the workplace.
Its a a 3.44 minutes video is a creative and simple video outlining the principles of social medialeelefever Twitter in plain English
Social networking in plain English
World wide web in plain English

Take a look at their website www.commoncraft.com to view the other presentations.

By Lauren Luke

I know its not an inspiring piece of art but I think it's inspiring to see how a regular woman has got the opportunity of a life time and created a career out of setting up make- up tutorials through using viral online media ( youtube).
She has been approach but one the the largest cosmetics brand Barry M (who are well knows for their use of colour and artistic flair) to complete on-line tutorials for their website.

She is now a celebrity in the cosmetic business and has now launched her own make- up brand Lauren Luke and has her own website www.bylaurenluke.com where she has designed pallets that create individual looks ( supporting the tutorials she originally uploaded on youtube).

I'm also liking the artwork on her website and her make-up brand, its fresh and funky instead of being professional and expensive, I think the reason why she's such a hit is because she's an average joe doing something she loves, I like the idea of aspiring to something that is real and not out of reach

Social Media

When a young singer used United Airlines as a means of travel, traveling with him was his beloved guitar. During the flight his guitar very badly handled and cost him over $12,000 to restore it back to its original condition..
So instead of a complaint letter, the band "Sons of Maxwell" decided to post a music video about the experience and the destruction of his guitar it was aimed at United Airlines .



According to the BBC United Airlines Stock is down 180 Million dollars this only goes to prove that bad cutomer service costs you in the end.
I along with companies didn't realise how strong and influential the power of online media can be .
Media through press and TV on its own if a very powerful thing and can help the growth or demise of anything they please, but I think now with this new information business will be more aware.

When i came to work today I overhead some of my colleagues discussing the song and forwarding the youtube links to one another. Its amazing to see how something like this can spread so quickly the resources are so readily available through the internet.
Yes it is word of mouth, but now is is so easy to know what is going on socially and quickly check it out on the internet instead of having to read a newspaper or what the TV.
Most people in this modern era use the internet, people rely on it as a daily dose of gossip, if its not through the computer its on their blackberry or iphone.
I do wonder what society would do if they only had basic amenities would they be able to survive?

Nick Griffin BNP

When I first saw the video of Nick griffin being pelted with eggs (considering I didn't really know who he was), I was quite shocked that someone could do that on public TV and that the woman who did it didn’t get caught for another 3 days. Technically she was committing a crime.

I've recently seen the video of Nick Griffin saying, " I didn't say anyone should be murdered at sea - I say boats should be sunk, they can throw them a life raft and they can go back to Libya."
This shocked me even more (this isn't a rant about my political views by the way). It’s the fact that the political leader for BNP has the guts to say something like that. This Automatically made me feel angry.

The reason I'm writing about this is that it is interesting for me, considering that I don't follow politics how the media has influenced my emotions to feel slightly sorry for an MP when eggs are pelted at them, then suddenly realising his views made me feel disgust and anger.
In my eyes I feel that the media can influence the public in any which way they please.

Paris Jackson

Yesterday was the emotional memorial for Michael Jackson a true musical genius, legend and not forgetting a father and brother .This was an event that will be will be a part of history

I've noticed that people have been remembering Jackson the entertainer, at work people are often listening to his classics, even when out clubbing venues are playing his music in dedication.

Why did I find this fascinating??

I am amazed to see peoples response to the death of an iconic man but also a person that they did not know ,how people can be so emotionally attached and feel bereaved .

It was not only a memorial but also the first public appearance of Michael Jacksons Daughter Paris ,11.

It was as if the whole world knew about this remarkable event, if people weren't at home watching it they were catching video links online or on their phones.When I logged onto facebook peoples status was directed at Paris's speech they had written "you are not alone Paris' and " your father was a great man".
I found myself watching the news feeds after reading these posts about her speech..

Paris Katherine Jackson words were "Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine".
I think that this was the point is when it struck home that Jackson was not just and entertainer but a father to three children, who have now lost their father.
Its amazing to see how just a few simple words can touch the publics heart.
This is making me wonder how deep and powerful words can really be, does everything have to be visual?