Social Impact

John KalataKevin Kitt

Chris Viviano

Overview• What is facebook?• History• Features• facebook as an information system• Why a social impact?• Impact on organization• Potential Social Impact• Ethical Dilemnas• Negative Impacts

What is facebook?

• Social Media Website– Interact with other members inside or outside of

your organization – Make and develop friendships– Get to know somebody– Putting a name to a face

History of facebook

• Founded by Mark Zuckerburg– Harvard University– Launched Feb 4th, 2004

• Originated for College students only– High School level– All users from different organizations

• Approximately 21 million members (5/7/07)– 100,000 new members weekly

Features of facebook

• Photo Albums: Tag your friends!• Write them messages• Post something on their wall• Change your profile and picture• Add new friends• Harass people you don’t know by “poking”

them

facebook as an Information System

• Enterprise Collaboration System• Cross-functional tool- Interact between all

different functional areas within the organization

• Like Blackboard– Less formal – More interactive

How facebook Works

facebook

Why Social Impact?

• Why does facebook have a social impact– College students– Expand to everyone– Know your classmates– Online database of a large portion of students– Interact and get to know each other

Potential Social Impacts

• College students plan to meet each other

• Employees are able to plan meetings

• Group events can be organized

Impact and Consequences on Employees

• Firing

• Sexual Harassment suits

• Offices using facebook to check up on their employees

Is facebook safe?

• Security and safety

• Compare to myspace

• Identity theft

Negative impacts

• Stalking• Distraction to the learning environment

• Poor display of self-image

• Spying on students

• Ethical Issues

Marketing on facebook

• Products sold on facebook

• Advertisements

• Planning of group events

Questions? Comments?