By definition, social media refers to media that is highly interactive, accessible and scalable. It encompasses everything from social networks like Facebook and MySpace, blogs, podcasts, video sharing, and social bookmarks.
Today, I want to talk about Facebook. Facebook has become a very important part of my life. I'm always connected to Facebook. It allow me to keep in touch with my friends all over the world and keeps me up to date with the happenings of their everyday lives.
It makes it easy for us to share photos and videos, and event plan events and outings without the hassle of having to send invitations through the mail.
Technology is forever growing and changing. Facebook is always being updated: new layouts, new applications, new functions. It makes us wonder what new gadgets and applications facebook will come up with in the years to come, or if it will even still be around in the future.
I read an article on xinmsn tech & gadgets section a few days ago, and they were discussing crazy new features that might pop up on facebook in time to come. Here are some of the ideas that they came up with:
1) People in your neighbourhood.
Since Facebook has a "people you may know" section now, it is highly possible that sooner or later they may come up with a "people in your neighbourhood" section. One click and you can see all the facebook users that stay around your area.
2) Automated stress signal.
The writers predict that, in the future, Facebook could begin tracking users login habits, and prepare some sort of algorithm that would detect anomalies in usage. For example, if someone who is usually on facebook 24-7 shows no activity for weeks, facebook could send notifications to friends asking if the person in question is missing or if he/she has disappeared. This function may not be useful to majority of users, but who knows? It might help save someone's life.
3) Posts mentioning your name.
A future feature could be one where you could search for any posts, pictures, or comments (not necessarily tagged) that mention your name within your network of friends.
4) Automatic Relative Search
Since Facebook already has a " people you may know" section, it is not that far-fetched to think that in the future, the might add a "people you may be related to" function. While this may be useful to people who are trying to locate long lost relatives, this function may prove to be more of a hassle than anything else, especially people who are trying to keep their relatives off their profiles because they want to maintain some privacy when it comes to their own private lives.
5) Specialised chat channels
Facebook chat has been around for a long time. Currently it is a very basic chat function. However it would come as no surprised if it evolved into a chatroom where you could meet strangers or new people. Aside from singles looking for someone to hook up with, specialised chat channels where people who shared similar interests or hobbies could hold discussion and such could emerge as well.
Those were the 5 suggestions given by the tech & gadgets section on the web. I came up with a few suggestions of my own as well.
1) Facebook's own "skype"
it is possible that, in the future, facebook chat will allow you to webcam and make video calls with the friends on your friend's list.
2) Tightened Facebook privacy settings
Currently, many employers use Facebook to "check out" their candidates applying for job vacancies to decide if they are suitable for the job. Many people are afraid that the activies they do on their own personal time ( eg. partying/drinking/smoking) may hurt their chances at securing jobs. Maybe in the furure, there will be a fuction where you can "hide" your profile from companies or accounts that you have no mutual friends with, making it harder for employers to spy on your through your facebook profile.
Of course, these are just mere speculations. For all we know, Facebook might crash and burn. And a new, more advanced social networking site may emerge to take its place. I guess we are just going to have to wait and see what the future holds.
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