Preece and Facebook

Quotable
"Developing online communities is a complex practical activity, and developers need a definition that guides practice. " (Preece)

In "Online communities: Designing Usability, Supporting Socialbility," Preece sets out a guide from which online communities can be both built and evaluate. She begins with some essentials to an online community.

"An online community consists of:

• People, who interact socially as they strive to satisfy their own needs or perform special roles, such as leading or moderating.
• A shared purpose, such as an interest, need, information exchange, or service that provides a reason for the community.
• Policies, in the form of tacit assumptions, rituals, protocols, rules, and laws that guide people's interactions.
• Computer systems, to support and mediate social interaction and facilitate a sense of togetherness."

Facebook hits all four of the points Preece points out as being necessary to be a valid online community.

People
Facebook IS people. However, it lacks a constant interaction component. Facebook doesn't satisfy interaction-type needs that people couldn't get elsewhere. For example, take a site for lovers of a specific computer game. The site can connect people from around the world and give them an outlet in which to converse. This outlet is irreplaceable. Such is not the case with Facebook. While irreplaceable items (such as the graffiti wall and search function and so on) would no longer be accessible, members wouldn't be losing out on a big sense of belonging if the it were to not exist. Without Facebook, members are still members of the UNC community. It just doesn't have its online manifestation.

Purpose
The main purpose Facebook serves is as an information exchange, an online social networking tool. As you will see in the user interviews, people see it and use it as such.

Policies
Facebook is equipped with easy-to-find and understandable policies. Preece notes that it's important for a community member to know what his or her membership means. Members want to know what others have agreed to by joining the community.


Usability and Socialbility
"Community developers also have to design software with good usability so that people can interact and perform their tasks intuitively and easily. Software with good usability supports rapid learning, high skill retention, low error rates and high productivity. It is consistent, controllable, and predictable, making it pleasant and effective to use. "Sociability focuses on social interaction; usability focuses on human-computer inter- action. Understanding a community's needs is essential for developing communities with good sociability and usability

Facebook is thought of as the ant-Friendster. Both have similar Planned Sociability -- create a network of exchange within circles of friends and those with which one finds similar. But they have very different execution or Design Usability. Most people find Facebook easier to use. Faster. More user-friendly. Such testimonials can also be found below in the user interviews.

Talking points, which wins out, Facebook or Friendster?:

1 - Visual appeal
2 - Sense of plan
3 - Privacy and membership
4 - Feeling truly social
5 - Reaction to user needs
6 - User reaction
7 - Real life application
8 - Foreseeable Future

Assessment
Facebook seems like a place where you can go and meet people. It also gives you multiple easy-to-navigate pathways to find new friendships. Such socialbility and usability give The Facebook virtual community-like characteristics.