Cole W. Camplese

Pirate Talk

Saw a great feature in Facebook today that changes the native language to English Pirate. Made me really laugh and it is easy to do ... 1) Scroll to the bottom of your Facebook page. 2) On the bottom left corner, click English: US. 3) When the language selection appears, click English: Pirate. 4) watch what happens. Nice when there are still things that can make me laugh.

Private Networks

I read an interesting post by danah boyd this morning titled, "Twitter is for friends; Facebook is for everybody" that lays out an interesting teen use case for Twitter in light of Facebook's continued growth and popularity. We've known for some time that the age demographic on Twitter is skewed much more towards my place on the spectrum than say college kids or teens. We also know that more and more high school (and middle school) kids are adopting either Facebook or MySpace as a place to connect and socialize with friends. It is in that point that danah makes a really interesting observation when she says the following in response to a high school student named Dylan that she recently interviewd ...

What Dylan is pointing out is that the issue is that Facebook is public (to everyone who matters) and Twitter can be private because of the combination of tools AND the fact that it's not broadly popular.

What she is saying is that because Facebook is so over the top popular with teens, their parents, relatives, and nearly everyone else that Facebook itself might as well be public. Sure it has a lock on the front door, but if every single person you know in real life has that key then there really aren't any secrets. What is fascinating to me is the behavior "in the know" teens are exhibiting in Twitter to game this "openly private" conundrum they are in ... they create private Twitter accounts so only their real friends (not Mom and Dad) can have access to. So FB becomes the place they shout everything, while Twitter is under the radar enough that they can whisper quietly to each other. Amazingly simple and amazingly smart. danah goes on to wonder if Twitter continues to become more popular will teens end up with yet another social network where they really aren't free to be? Good question.

In my mind I see the same kind of thing emerging in my own social network use -- I need different platforms to do different things. Facebook is overrun and I cannot use it like I really want to. Too many people have access to my profile for me to post some of the content I might want to post. Sure FB has the message features, but they feel really out of place -- almost like I am violating some code of conduct by sending a private message to a single person in my network instead of writing it proudly on their wall. The Twitter direct message feels very different and I use that quite a bit more. I've felt the same pain with IM ... over time I collect too many people that add way too much noise to my communications channels and have to create a new account. It seems like we are stuck in this loop and until something more like Google Wave hits we may be stuck in it. Any thoughts?

Doing it Right?

I had a crazy day yesterday ... not that I am complaining, as I spent it with smart people near or at the top of the decision making chain here at PSU. I spent all morning and into the afternoon talking to a couple of groups about social media, social networks, and their potential for impact on students. I was asked over and over again how we as administrators and as an Institution should take advantage of Facebook (and blogs and twitter, and ...). The rooms were filled with people of varying levels of comfort with social media sites so you could almost draw a line down the middle between "these sites make no sense" and "we absolutely need to be there." The interesting thing I kept hearing was that students don't want us there and that has me thinking about one simple question -- Should Universities maintain an official Facebook presence?

Before I get too far down the path let me say that I am not talking about individual professors adding students as friends. I am talking strictly about an Institutional commitment to taking part in the network. As an example I can point you to my alma mater, West Virginia University, where they have (as it appears) made a serious decision about embracing everyone's favorite social network.

What I wonder is if we need to be there? Should we use our resources (in time and people) to build a strong brand in FB? What does it yield? A place for alumni to reconnect (do they need us for that)? A place where we can do targeted marketing (can't we do that in FB without a space)? A place to alert students of issues on campus (I hate to think we are relying on FB as our broadcast engine)? I'm just not sure.

There's been all sorts of chatter about how to deal with the rapidly expanding demographic and how to personally segment the network based on who you want to see your updates. To me what that means is that we are seeing a network that is growing up. What was once the haven of a few geeks and a whole bunch of college kids has turned into a social network with an emerging identity crisis. It is no longer the land of twenty somethings ... my Mom, Mother-in-Law, as are parents of my friends are on FB and know how to use it relatively well so something is afoot. Take into account the following from iStrategyLabs as an example ...

The biggest surprise (perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising) was that Facebook’s 35-54 year old demographic segment not only continued to grow the fastest, but it accelerated to a 276.4% growth rate over the past 6 months.

Basically what I'm saying is that it isn't just for college kids anymore ... there are now lots of people to think about. So, I'll return to my question, should Universities maintain an official Facebook presence? Anyone have any thoughts?

Facebook is Smart

Just a quick post to say that I can honestly say I didn't see this one coming ... my wife is on FB and invited me to one of those "rate the movies you like and compare it with your friends" applications -- I think it is Flixster to be exact. Well, so I rated all the movies in the list as honestly as I could and guess what? Flixster actually listed my wife and I as "Soul Mates." If you don't believe it, you can check the image below as proof.

The really funny thing is that as I checked every other single female I am friends with on FB that also took this test, my wife and I are the only ones listed as Soul Mates. I have a few "Close Friends" in the list, but no one is categorized as my Soul Mate. Wow, I am sure glad that is settled.

The FaceBook Platform

I have only been following the rumors related to FaceBook's newest jump as an outsider -- the FaceBook Platform. Twice in the same day I am linking to GigOm ... this time a very well composed post explaining the new deal. From what I am making of it all, the FB will allow partners (whatever that means) to write specific apps that live on top of the FB. In other words, the FB could be looked at like an OS and these new apps can rest on its foundation. I am guessing this will let normal people (at some point) tap the power of the FB's data (and user profiles) to create new things that may only have interest to a subset of the users. This does all sorts of things if I understand it correctly, but one thing it does do is allow people to leverage the unbelievably active user base to create niche applications for specific vertical opportunities.

What this means to me is that I could write an application that linked FB traffic with say a course management system of sorts. Layering on top of the FB a whole host of CMS style tools -- discussion, quizzing, assignment posting, and really anything else ... and the students would never have to leave the FB. If I can do that, then maybe I would consider using the profile power of the FB to get at some very interesting content delivery options ... this is all just happening to me in the moment here, but I am thinking of allowing course materials to be presented to you at different levels depending on profile parameters -- foreign language students who say they've visited France may very well get more advanced podcasts of content to translate as an example. Students don't spend hours in our spaces like they do in the FB and in the FB they are spending some of that time crafting their profiles to better match either their real or stated identity. Update, this morning while hitting the feeds I bumped into one of the first apps to run on top of FB, Project Agape. It is essentially a "Causes" engine that now has deep integration with the FB. Very interesting stuff.

I need to do more reading and more investigation, but it seems to me that the Marketplace FB just released last week may be one of these such applications. I don't know that, but it would seem to make sense. I wonder what all this will mean for dedicated social sites who work to grab the typical FB demographic? If I can (or choose) to live in the FB, constantly crafting and honing my profile, why would I go to Flickr to share my pictures? Why would I need to blog outside the environment? Why for that matter, would I need to go to Google to find something? I know the web is the platform we all live on today, but there is something here.

Sorry for the rambling train wreck, but I need someone to help me think about this.

FaceBook Sells Stuff Too

What is more powerful than a massive location aware social network? Why, its the FaceBook Marketplace. Looks like everyone's favorite campus hang out spot is getting into the clasified ads business -- for free. Don't be fooled, there is a business model in there. If you jump over to the NY Times you can read all the details in the piece, Facebook to Offer Free Classifieds. From the article ...

Facebook, based in Palo Alto, Calif., is calling the new service Marketplace and plans to introduce it on Friday. It will allow users to create classified listings in four categories: housing; jobs; for sale, where users can list things like concert tickets and used bikes; and “other,” a catch-all that could include things like solicitations for rides home for the holidays.

This creates an interesting campus market place that could drive even more traffic through the FB. I have to say I think I know where I am going to be placing my ads to sell some of that old stuff I have. If you think about it, where else could I go to really reach this demographic? The University newspaper, maybe. A flyer to hang on a classroom wall, eh. But with this, the FB folks have pegged the three things you need to do business -- location, location, loaction ... oh, and a built in network of connected, trusted, co-located friends doesn't hurt either. This is worth watching.

What I am curious about is how they will provide value to the marketplace concept using all that is right about social networking. I am wondering if there will be Amazon style recommendations based on my profile or the profile of my friends. Will I see items for sale from friends first? If so, will I be more likely to buy. On campus we hear from students that they go to trusted sources first when they need help with things like technology and coursework ... will that translate into the buying experience? I am betting on that being a yes. I wonder what others think?

The Social Web Steps Up

I have been amazed at how the Social Web has stepped up in the face of the VA Tech tragedy. The major news sources were the first to the scene, but with content mostly contributed by i-Reporters ... shortly there after, youtube was flooded with videos showing different views of what what had unfolded and tributes to victims. If you spend some time at Flickr you can see first hand what was going on during and after the events on Monday. These sites gave us all a view that we would never had gotten prior to current user-generated scene we are all living in and was certainly the fastest way to start understanding what was going -- news conferences just didn't cut it.

Perhaps the most interesting and amazing of all these spaces is the FaceBook. Instantly, FB groups emergered from all corners of their networks. Within hours, the PSU FB Network had already errupted into a half dozen groups. I searched for stuff from my Alma Mater, WVU, and instantly found the same thing going on there. Here at PSU, students rallied together to decide to create a giant VT in the stands of the annual Blue and White Spring football game this weekend -- all within the FB. Within hours of the group forming it had over 800 members ... all of them committed to showing support for VT.

I think this my be a turning point in our appreciation of tools like the FB. Students understand the power of social tools and so many of us are now seeing just how amazing these tools are for creating instant community opportunities. What I am also finding so interesting is how traditional news and the social sites are playing off each other to round out each other's coverage. A traditional news site pulling profiles of victims from friends' stories all over the web is just one example. Almost all of what I found on the FB was publicly accessible, so I am sure reporters used these same self-organized social spaces to discover much of the information they are reporting in the traditional news environment. In great respect of the tragedy, I find it all very interesting and think we are stepping into new waters -- waters where traditional news sources (and the general public) have gained a new appreciation for user-generated content. I also think it starts the FB down a path of general acceptance and as a hub of information gathering and distribution.

FaceBook Now Open ... to Everyone

Well, it happened -- FaceBook is now open to anyone and everyone through the new regional networks feature.  When I logged in today I was greeted with an opportunity to invite anyone into the FB.

This was bound to happen.  I think I know how students will react to it.  On one hand you know it is going to blow the doors off the place in terms of new users ... on the other it is going to piss a whole hell of a lot of people off.  The second thing I noticed was an invitation to join a new group ... "Students against Facebook opening to EVERYONE!!!"  If you didn't notice that was three exclamation points there ...

Last year at the 2006 TLT Symposium here at PSU we had a student panel and the FB was a major part of the conversation.  Students were very clear that they liked it becasue it belonged to them -- not the University and certainly not to anyone outside their network.  This changes all that.  I am just going to sit back and watch as you know there will be some sort of backlash ... I think we can all remember their last big set of added features. What will this mean to the FB on our campus? I think it will expand it, but this is one of those tipping points where things are never the same.  Will students think differently about how they use the FB?  Time will tell.

Communities DO Self Correct

In light of the recent FaceBook craziness I have been telling anyone who will listen that the community will regain control over the insanity ... today, FB decided it was time to listen to their community and made some changes. This all looks to me like a huge moment in the web 2.0 space -- people have a voice, they will use it, and they will protect what is important to them. There is a lesson here folks ... don't piss on the digital herd and whatever you do don't make a mistake when you are out in front -- especially if your success is built around a vocal demographic.

On a related note, I wonder if Amazon would change their tune if all the Mac folks decided they were going to stop buying books (and all the other stuff they sell) because their new Unboxed service in not Mac friendly? Given the power of the blogosphere and the explosion of community this could be a reality. Say what you will about small Apple market share, but 5% of Amazon users would make a difference ... it isn't like it used to be when people just had to take whatever the big boys told them. We have a voice and we will stop showing up. I am not picking on Amazon per say, I am just saying that making big time service decisions aint what it used to be. Watch out, the times they are a changin' (BTW, that isn't my line).

In the meantime, log into FB and update your privacy settings -- I am sick of seeing all your changes.

The FaceBook F*%#s Up

I was talking with a student today and he was telling me how much FaceBook blew it with the new set of services they introduced a couple of days ago. I had actually logged into the FB just the other day and was sort of shocked to see the new feed feature running on my profile page. What was both interesting and a bit disconcerting was that I was able to see a whole bunch of information about all my friends and that my friends were able to see a whole bunch information about me. I thought, "I'm nit sure I want everyone to know that I just updated my music profile ..." At that same time it was nice to see that one of my friends had gone from single to engaged for example.

When I listened to this student talk about how pissed everyone was I thought about a bunch of people sitting in a room making decisions for their audience ... I've been in rooms like that, a group of people deciding on features we were convinced were the best thing to do only to find out the hard way we were wrong. I have been thinking about doing a real review of what has gone wrong with the FB's latest moves but when I read Fred Stutzman's post on his excellent blog Unit Structures this evening I just thought I'd point to the expert.