Facebook Elements
"The Wall" displays user updates, which Facebook calls "What are you doing now?" Facebook uses third person narrative for the "What are you doing now?" update. I find this to be a creative way for users to inform their friends about how they are feeling, saying or what they are doing. "The Wall" is also for friends to write messages to each other. I think this is a very good idea, because users are able to keep a conversation going without jumping around from page to page. The bad thing about "The Wall" is that messages will show up on other user pages. This allows user friends to be aware of the messages that you are writing. I feel as if this violates user privacy. Important messages are safest when sent through user’s inbox.
"People You May Know" is a site element that alerts users of people that they may know that are not on their friends list. Facebook compares the links between my friends and their friends. Based on these patterns Facebook recommends their friends to me on the assumption that we will share common interests.
When you "Poke" someone on Facebook you are saying hello, without going through the motions of writing on their wall or sending a message to their inbox. This is a way to let a friend know that you are thinking of them. A "Super Poke" is used to annoyingly get someone's attention. I think the "Poke" idea is cute, especially when paired with the graphic symbol of a pointing finger.
Fallon Guess
CMS 3710
Updated: 12 November 2008