What better way to survive the post-Fall Break midterm hump than by checking out the newly revamped features on everyone's favorite procrastination /stalking device? With new and exciting additions, the Facebook has managed to stay in style -- and on students' favorites lists --through its second semester.
The new features include a "groups" category in which people can organize themselves according to similar interests, activities, hometown, etc. "The groups feature is cool because they are entertaining and give more of an idea who the person is besides what they say about themselves," first-year Architecture student Kara Mason said.
Second-year College student Sidnia Etherington said she thinks the groups option is the best new feature because it "gives insight of what people are into." Not only can you find out more about your Facebook friends, but you can find people who share the same interests as you.
"I think the groups idea is awesome," second-year College student Brad Owens said. "I am connected to three different groups, and they allow me to be connected easily with people who are either behind the same issues I am or are involved in the same things I am."
Third-year College student Mike Brancato agrees. "It's another way to connect with people, just like class listings," he said.
The new feature called the "wall" also is a hot topic among Facebook members. This new element provides a space in each Facebook member's profile where friends (or the actual member) can post comments for everyone to see. Postings range from claims of the person's hotness to random advertisements about an upcoming party.
"The wall gives friends a place to say something about you and shows people how you are besides what you write in your profile," Etherington said.
In addition, members now can indicate their intended vote for the upcoming presidential election. While some have fun with this and put down comical names, most students do choose to show who they are rooting for.
"I think that this is the latest sign that the Facebook is staying up to date," Brancato said.
Not only is the Facebook staying up to date, but it is now open to more than 150 schools nationwide. Students have mixed feelings about the wide array of users. Mason sees both the positive and negative sides of the expansion.
"I like the openness because we can have friends who aren't all at Ivy schools," she said. "Although originally the exclusiveness was fun, I'm glad that it opened up more because we can still consider ourselves one of the first."
However, many students would prefer a more limited availability of the Facebook. "It was more prestigious and fun when it was just us and the Ivy League schools," Etherington said. "Although, now it is cool to have friends from other schools as well." Others, such as Owens, like the fact that there are so many schools now involved. "I think it's really cool that the Facebook is open to so many different schools. It definitely gives you a chance to create a more diverse group of friends," he said.
So with all these new features, have students' opinions of the Facebook changed?
"I actually used to have a running joke with some of my friends," Owens admitted. "We called it the 'stalker book' because it gives out so much information on the person you are looking for. But after I saw how many people it introduced to some of my other friends, I figured I might as well see who I could meet by joining."
"It's cool right now because it is still new," Etherington said. "I think it will stay cool as long as people keep participating in it."
Mason agreed that its relative newness makes it trendy. "It will stay around awhile because it is still catching on at other schools, especially if they keep adding new features," she said.
Brancato holds a similar opinion. "It's still cool, and it will stay cool as long as there are still schools to be added," she said. "It hits every new college with the same excitement seen at U.Va. last year."So with all these old and new features to choose from, what is the best part of the Facebook? Members said that they enjoy both the new and the old. According to Mason, the best part is seeing pictures, a feature that was part of the Facebook since its introduction. Brancato and Etherington like the groups, and Owens likes to look at his friends' friends.
"It lets you meet more people that you could have something in common with and that allows you to easily start a conversation the next time you meet them," Owens said. "It helps with breaking the ice."
Students, however, still see room for improvement. One feature that sparks endless confusion and wonder is "poking." Since the directory does not come with a set of directions, members have to guess what the meanings of some of the more unusual features are.
"I don't understand poking people," Etherington said. "I don't get what it's used for."
Owens also is a bit baffled by the poking feature. "I think that they could make the poke useful for something," he said. "I don't know what, but they could make it something."
Mason had one final qualm to voice. "I don't like that you can't look at the profile of people from other schools unless you are their friend," she said. "They should make different schools more accessible to each other."
Taking into account the fact that the Facebook is still causing so much excitement, not just here at the University, but all over the country, we can probably depend on utilizing its secret stalker thrills for awhile longer. But how long? When asked if he thinks the Facebook will have staying power, Owens answered, "Oh definitely. I will be on the Facebook forever."
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