The Evolution of Facebook

February 2004 was a turning point and an evolution of social media that would forever change how individuals communicated with each other. Created by Mark Zuckerberg, merely less than a decade later there are about 800 million active users on this social network. With the ability to personalize one's page, add other users as friends, exchange messages, and share profile updates, Facebook has become an epidemic in society.

I use Facebook on a daily basis, and I can always find myself always checking my news feed and account every half hour. Sometimes more, if I find myself having nothing in particular. I absolutely love Facebook, and it is rare for anyone to not have Facebook at this day and age. It is a evolution of communication, and has the capabilities of connecting everyone with everyone. Practically everyone I know has a Facebook account, even some of my friends who previously stated in high school that they would never join Facebook has one now. A large majority of my family have a Facebook account, in which with Facebook I have the ability to communicate and stay in touch with my mom's side of the family who are all living in Singapore. I have the ability to stay in touch with my cousins on my dad's side who live in Toronto and Vancouver. I have the ability to communicate with my high school friends who I'm very close with, some who attend school in Waterloo, Some in UBC, and some still living in Calgary. I love how I can easily connect with everyone, as Facebook is so much better than the out dated email. It is more personal and accessible. The one thing I love about Facebook is that it is always constantly changing. When I first joined Facebook, it was just a simple profile page where your friends could post on your walls, and you could do so vice versa. However, now, there is a Facebook messaging app that is very similar to Msn Messenger, which I have not signed onto for over a year since. There are games that you can play with online, join pages of celebrities or companies. Facebook has changed so much since 2004, but it has become more and more accessible and fun to use.

During my ALES 204 class, I recently learned something that I never knew before. I learned about Facebook Pages, and how we can use Facebook as a professional tool, which is essentially a resume of the public to see. I discovered that a lot of individuals now have two Facebook pages. One that is personal, where they can post their drunken Friday night photos and randomness. The other page being more professional, where future employers take a online peek at who they are hiring. I found this really amazing, and a definite change in the way people get hired. As many companies and industries now use this tactic to hire people. So I created my own Facebook page, which can be viewed below.

Here is a screenshot of my new Facebook Page

Professional, crisp, straightforward, this was my online resume, in which I hope future employers will look at this page and see an individual that is well rounded and perfect for the job. With a Facebook page, I can still be the individual who I am on my personal page without the concerns of employers finding me unprofessional. Many business and companies also have begun to join the Facebook addiction, as some have created pages that capture the essence of their company. Pages that connect them to their buyers and keep them consistently updated on their products. One page that I found particularly interesting was the Facebook page for my favorite clothing store, Aritzia. In which I could view their new lines, and connect with thousands of other fans of the store.

It is apparent that Facebook is a new driving force in communication. It is a social media that has become a daily addiction for many of its user, even me. I can most definitely see myself still using Facebook for many years to come, as I am utterly in love with it.

Check out this student's thoughts on Facebook:
Chronicles of Shan

ALES 204 Introductory Post

Picture from Michelle Leung

Hello everyone,

My name is Michelle Leung, and I am a second year student attending the University of Alberta. I am currently under the Pre-Veterinarian major under the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Science. However, I am considering switching into the Animal Health Program and changing my major to the Companion and Performance Animal major. Ultimately, I am striving to become a veterinarian one day, as I have always loved animals since my childhood, where I would re-watch 'The Aristocats' numerous of times. My current personal choice is to one day work as a veterinarian in a clinic or explore a career in wildlife rehabilitation. I have also considered working abroad, as I would like to see the world while doing something I enjoy. I currently have a wonderful cat in my life, who I miss so much, as I had to leave him behind in Calgary to attend school here in Edmonton.

I believe that social media is an amazing way to connect and interact with people. Some people may argue that it dilutes real social interactions, however I disagree with that statement. I would argue that it connects people, and if done in moderation, social interaction in real life could actually enhance social interactions. As individuals would be connected, and up to date about current news. I believe that veterinarians will begin to utilize the power of social media to connect with their clients in the future.

Communication plays a significant role in my choice of career, as I believe it will be a evolution in the interaction between the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Social media can be used by veterinarians to connect with their clients outside of the clinic, share medical news and advice, and permit their clients to get to know the individual who is responsible for the health of their loved ones. Dr V., a graduate of UC Davis Veterinarian School and has been practicing small animal medicine and surgery since 2002 is a consistent blogger. Dr.V, has created a personal blog about both her life as a veterinarian and as a mother, in which the blog is called Pawcurious.

http://pawcurious.com/

I read through a couple of articles, and I can safely say I enjoyed several of her blogs about her life as a veterinarian and a mother. Her stories about her family, her pets, and her daily life gave me a sense of understanding of what kind of person she is. I found her blog very clever and I can definitely see several of her clients enjoying the blog. I found this blog by googling veterinarians using social media, and I came across this blog and an article interviewing Dr.V, on why she decided to make this blog. I found it very interesting and enlightening.

Interview with Dr.V, author of pawcurious.com

Social Media is both my future and my present. Presently I utilize various forms of social media. I use Facebook on a daily basis, in which I frequently check my news feed and update my status. I use Facebook to connect with my friends that are across the country in Montreal and Waterloo, and I also Facebook to connect with my family in Singapore. I enjoy staying in touch with friends that I have known since elementary schools, and friends that I have recently made in university. I use Twitter to stay updated on the random moments of life of my friends, and to keep connected with various news. I enjoy watching YouTube videos, and Dailymotions. As you can see, Social Media is a huge part of my life, and I can see it becoming a huge part of my life in the future.

When browsing through the blogs of my classmate, I found myself enjoying the following blog:
http://jumpingbeamer.blogspot.com/

In which, based off of her post, we both have a lot of common thoughts and goals.

This is the first time, I have made a blog. However, I believe it is very similar to having a journal. Hopefully during this semester of ALES 204, I will learn the ins and outs of blogging, and more social media. In which I can utilize the knowledge that I will gain of social media in the future, and apply it to my field of study.