Social websites breed corporate dilemma

Social media networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have not only attracted the younger generation globally but also political leaders, professionals, politicians, sports personnel and even celebrities.

We still have websites like YouTube, Bebo, Orkut and MySpace, but Facebook has gained worldwide attention and acceptance.

The Facebook team, noting the shortcomings of other networking sites, targeted college campuses as students and the youth tend to have a large number of friends across international borders.

Facebook is translated into several languages and hence has wider appeal.

Facebook reflects the typical character of youngsters; to share activity and information and discuss common interests such as a favourite book, movie and music.

Students could form a bond with their peers by linking to their profile and “poke” someone to inform having visited the profile.

Once a new user made ten friends, he or she gets shifted as ‘active.’

The progress of Facebook has been rapid.

According to experts, this could threaten the existence or profitability of the giant Google, a company with more than $US100 billion market capitalisation.

Social network sites count on user engagement.

Google is now commonly used to collect information on almost everything available on the Internet. While the information available is voluminous (some queries pop up millions of files as response), it is important to restrict your search to the information required.

Google is here to stay.

The world’s worst kept secret is that Facebook is working on a new service called, ‘Google Me,’ which is likely to ruffle a few feathers.

Facebook has the vision of taking the company beyond the global standard for social networking and become the new operating system.

There are of course a number of issues that is currently engaging the attention of the concerned at Facebook

Joan Goodchild, Senior Editor of CSO Online has outlined five major risks faced by users of social networking sites like Facebook.

“Your information is often shared by third parties, while privacy settings revert to a safe default mode after each redesign. Facebook advertisements may contain malware and users are often vulnerable. Scammers can create fake profiles,” she said.

Facebook is well assessed of these challenges and is making all attempts to improve security and safety. It is rolling out a new feature that would require outside applications and websites to tell users what parts of their profiles can be shared.

The company has begun testing face detection technology for photographs.

Vishwas Deshpande is Director of Make IT Secure Limited, an IT support company based in Auckland. He can be reached on Phone: 0800-026487 Email: info@makeitsecure.co.nz www.makeitsecure.co.nz