Facebook is one of the fastest growing social network websites. Originally started on a college campus, it expanded to other campuses, flowed into high schools, and eventually opened to the public in September of 2006.
The strength of Facebook is its tight-knit and often regionally-based networks. The recent addition of third-party Facebook applications also gives it a strong foundation for the future.
The downside of Facebook is poor usability. It is not very friendly to new users, and it can take a bit of time to get used to its quirks.
Facebook - Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong social networking features
- Third-party applications provide a unique feel tailored to individual interests
- Very popular with college and high school students
Cons
- Poor web usability in areas
- Lacks some in-house features such as music and videos
Guide Review - Facebook
Facebook is very popular, especially with college and high school students. Interesting features such as the ability to 'poke' another user or post something on their virtual wall give a very friendly and almost schoolyard feel to it.
The main audience for Facebook remains in its school-based roots, but it is quickly catching on as a regional and/or work-based social network. The strong group features that allow members to post messages and plan events help make it a good tool for work and a fun tool for the home.
Third-Party Applications for Facebook
The biggest attraction, and what will keep Facebook moving strongly ahead in the future, is the inclusion of third-party apps. Facebook openly promotes the creation of applications that can be tied into the Facebook experience.
For example, one application allows users to input the books they are currently reading and write reviews. Another is designed around your favorite sports team and allows you to participate in activities like doing the wave.
These applications will help provide the functionality Facebook is lacking and create more variety for the user's experience.
Facebook Could Be Easier To Use
The biggest downside is that Facebook isn't very easy to use. Many social networking sites overwhelm new users with too many features crammed onto the page. Facebook seems to have gone the opposite way. Many of the basic pages are too empty.
Take, for example, the key feature of a social networking site: searching for friends. Facebook provides a nice little page to easily invite friends from your email address book. You can also click on a link to search for a friend from your high school, college, or workplace.
But what if you wanted to find John Doe from Anywhere, USA? There's no option for an advanced search under the friends tab. You have to use the search feature under the networks tab, and you will need to join a network first.
The third-party applications are another example. There are plenty of really cool applications, but no easy way to search through them. You can use the global search on the main page, but searching for "book" will not only bring up book applications, it will also bring up people with the last name of "Books."
In fact, the easiest way to find applications is to go to another website completely such as FaceReviews.
Facebook - Overall Impression
Facebook is a good social network, especially for college and high school students, but like other social networks, it struggles to present a clean and easy-to-use interface without overloading the user.
Confusing to use at first, it can be a fun networking tool for those interested in getting to know their classmates, getting back in touch with old college buddies, meeting people that live nearby, or finding people with similar interests.
