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The Facebook question

Do I or don’t I?

I’ve been eligible to create a Facebook account even before the recent opening-to-everyone. (I suppose I could’ve used my wsc.ma.edu address even before I came here.) I haven’t done it, mainly because I didn’t have much interest. I’ve avoided 90% of the so-called “social networking” sites (the other 10% being in response to a specific request for help; I’m now having difficulty remembering which site it was.)

I still have only limited interest, but the more I work with undergrads, the more it becomes useful to have some kind of visibility in their social space. I discussed it briefly last year with an undergraduate TA, and dismissed the idea with, “I’m too old for Facebook.” It does seem a bit sketchy—as though I’d be one of those adults who’s trying too hard to be “cool.” And I’ve heard about (and seen) too many cases of poor public-image management on the part of students to really want to be involved. (Begging the question: Is this site a case of poor public-image management on the part of this student?)

But I am seeing a point in putting up a face, so to speak. At least one other person I know through track is on, focusing on his work in his University’s athletic department. He’s making himself visible and accessible to the students he works without trying to compete with them in presentation—using the medium to present the image he wants to present.

So I wondered: as a TA, and as a “mentor”, should I have a presence on Facebook?

(This isn’t actually as important to me as this post makes it sound; I just thought I’d share the thought experiment.)

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Posted by pjm on October 10, 2006 6:36 PM |

Comments

It’s possible that this is because I work for an internet company, but I try to check out any social organizing phenom I can.

It’s all about convergence and community. I think of it as a tool that I can choose to use any way I like.

Posted by: kristen | October 10, 2006 8:06 PM

I definitely think you should do it, for the very reasons that your track friend is on there. It’s a way to communicate with your students in that space, without becoming them, but humanizing yourself by sharing some other parts of yourself beyond what you present in the classroom.

I actually put up my Facebook account as a grad student and started a separate one when I was a Adjunct. Initially I did it because I was experimenting with it for work, but after that it became kind of an object lesson for my students — look who ELSE is on Facebook. Think about this before you post.

However, lucky for you, events of the past month have served to make almost everyone who uses Facebook extremely aware of the public nature of their profile.

Anyway, I’d do it — it’s fun and it gives you a chance to present yourself freshly in a new arena and learn about your students a little more too. Besides as a TA and a grad student, you’re a gap bridger — not quite a professor, no longer an undergrad, but someoone still living the student life.

Posted by: Ms. F | October 10, 2006 10:51 PM

i have a myspace account— does that count?

Posted by: nikki c | October 11, 2006 11:49 AM

It’s probably more how you use the account than anything else. Just make sure you post your drunk photos in a more private place.

I have a facebook account, but I don’t actually use it. Something about it just makes me feel sketchy and old. Friend counting is so elementary school.

Posted by: A | October 11, 2006 1:13 PM

Do you attend class? Do you have office hours? Do you have a website? Do you answer your email? Then you are visible and accessible to the students. No need to do any more than that unless you really want to.

Posted by: crowther | October 11, 2006 6:32 PM

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