Lurking around Facebook By Gabrielle Bennett

Facebook is the most popular online social network for diverse individuals and organizations. It provides instant availability and high level of capacity. It was founded in 2004 by Mark Zucherberg and co-members. The site allows any user who declares they are 13 years of age and over to become registered members. Facebook gives people the power to share and make the world become more open and connected. Just like the food chain, facebook is the survival for communication in contemporary society. https://www.facebook.com/

Image 1: Facebook Login Page (2004) 

Facebook allows me to feel empowered because I can turn my account to 'friends only' or 'public;' allowing me to have the power in regards to who visits my profile page and personal data. "People are placed by power, but they experience it at first hand through the rhythms and relationships of particular places" (Allen, 2003, Pp. 3)

At the moment I am travelling through the virtual network like a fish in the sea. I have explored all the different features such as uploading photos, sharing statuses, 'liking' group pages and even exchanging private/public messages. The social network allows me to feel like I am flying through the sky with no clouds surrounding me; the freedom is powerless opposed to the freedom you have down on the cities sidewalks. "Space is freedom" (Tuan, 1977, pp.3).

Although I am only a beginner at this social network, the designers of facebook have created a self explanatory map in regards to navigating around the 'space' of this network; as every map serves a purpose (wood, 2006). Through the mapping design of facebook it empowers me to visualise divers aspects through the categories that are displayed such as 'news feed.' This permits cyber stalking (Barnes, 1997), as I can prowl around other's pages without them knowing I have even looked. However the hidden prowl is revealed when I contribute to conversations which than link to my profile. Facebook is always under surveillance (Petray, 2013 & Turkle, 1995).

Gtg Blog Later..... Gabbi

 
Reference list

Allen, J. (2003). Lost geographies of power. Malden, MA: Blackwell.

Barnes, G. (1997). Passage of the cyber-flaneur. Retrieved from http://www.raynbird.com/essays/passage_flaneur.html

Petray, T. (2013). BA1002. Our space: Networks, Narratives and the Making of place. Week 1. [Audio Recording]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au

Turkle, S. (1995). 'Panoptican.' In life on the screen: Identity in the age of the internet. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Tuan, Y. (1977). Introduction, in space and place: The perspectives of experience. (pp 3-7). London, England: Edward Arnold.

Wood, D., Kaise, W.L, & Abramms, B. (2006). Seeing through maps: Many ways to see the world. Oxford, UK: New Internationalist.

Image Credits

Image 1: Facebook Login Image. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/

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