Social Networking: Significance and Trends

     It is suggested social networking is "the way the 21st century communicates today".  (What is Social Networking).  Members of the communities within social networking sites often share common friends, relatives, interests, political views, class mates, businesses, or even pet breeds.  The main objective is to connect people who have something in common.  Many of the social networking sites are available free on a global scale.  Daily, even in minutes, personal or international news, photos, videos, and music can be shared.  One can search for a job, establish business contacts, or join blogs or forums to support common views or causes.  All ages and backgrounds are utilizing these sites.
      A networking group consists of any group with common interests and be created by anyone.  This offers endless possibilities in the realm of education.  A network of nursing faculty can form as a support group for technology ideas.  A network of students can share experiences and photos with classmates at home while on a service learning adventure abroad.  Social networking sites reach millions of people daily which makes this a great venue for promoting a health care topic.  Again, the type of social networking tools are vast, from blogging to a wiki page to a Facebook organization page of resources.
     A good social networking site should have features such as security, easy to use profile page, picture, video and music uploads, a FAQs section, and search functions to find old or new friends.  Some sites can be accessed by phone.   Social Networking Websites Review shows an excellent comparison of the top 10 sites.
     For my project in 577, I have chosen to explore Facebook based upon many of the above reasons.  I have a personal interest in enabling persons to access up-to-date health information in the non-western world, specifically in the bush of Kenya.  Though many modes of technology are just beginning to be available, one source is everywhere, cell phones.  My husband recently phoned the owner of a camp where he will be visiting and the owner answered the phone, saying he was out herding his goats, and would call back after he returned home and changed out of his herding clothing and went to his camp office.  With this availability comes the new opportunity to share health information.  in the area of my interest, many of those who have cell phones also access Facebook.  Facebook is the #1 social networking site, offers all the features listed above, is free and easy to access by phone.  My intent in this exploration of using this tool is to provide health care information to those vulnerable to malaria.  With that goal in mind, I am off to discover ways to use this tool of Facebooking most effectively to meet my goal.

Information of interest on Social Networking sites: See Resourses Page.

Blog Title

csocialnetworking is a blog to capture information about social networking and have it available for you to see, thus c (see) for cecily : )  social networking.  I hope all these resources will enable you to be a proficient member in the on-line social network.