Class 4 Assignment 6a: Facebook Pages and Groups

           In Facebook, pages and groups play critical roles in the users' collaborative efforts to create an online virtual social network. Although the distinction between Facebook groups and pages seems somewhat vague, these two Facebook functions are geared toward different purposes and uses.

           In the Facebook help section, pages are defined as a tool for "businesses, brands and organizations to share their stories and connect with people." Pages are customizable contents, done through "posting stories, hosting events, adding apps and more." Posts and updates from liked pages appear on the users' news feed and their friends', as well. Individual users can assume manager role for a page from personal account. When one desires a page to represent a business, organization, celebrity or brand, he/she must be an official representative. Pages are different from personal profiles; pages offer special features for commercial usage. Pages' authenticity is guaranteed by Facebook, owing to the fact that official commercial pages require certified individuals from different businesses, organizations, and brands to create them. Each users who signs up for Facebook are allotted one account, yet that one account has the capability to manage and administrate multiple pages.

           Although groups sound highly identical to the concept of pages, groups are distinguished from pages that its purpose is to offer space for "communicating on shared interests," according to Facebook help section. Any Facebook user is eligible for creating groups, which is different from pages. Groups are more informal organizations of users.

           In regards to privacy, page information and posts become public contents; such contents become available for all Facebook users. For groups, more specific privacy settings can be applied. Secret and closed groups are examples of such privacy manipulation. Posts and contents within the private and secret groups are only visible to the group members.

           In terms of audience, pages do not have a limitation of audiences; anyone who likes a page can become the audience for a page. In contrast, groups are more privacy focused. Group privacy can be adjusted to require the members of the groups to be approved by the group administrators.

This is an assignment from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Collaborative Computing. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc