Update on the Facebook Newsfeed
It’s more than being social, it’s about life
Whenever the most prominent social media outlet, Facebook, changes the world listens. My ears have been WIDE open these past few days as Mashable and other prominent sources have been reporting on the complete overhaul Facebook has launched.
I’m absolutly excited for what is to come. The above video, provided from Facebook, shows the newest installment of changes that go along with what I’ve been talking about the past two days on my blog: 5 changes and It’s changed again. The video shows that social media has become so ingrained in everyone of our lives that it literally can be a showcase for your life.
The launch of the timeline in the next few weeks, allows you to back track on your Facebook profile through the years without hitting the pesky little “older posts” button on the bottom of every profile. Instead you can click on the year you want to see. You will be even able to add things BEFORE you had a Facebook, like baby pictures etc.
Photos will be the notches on your timeline as they become the viewfinder of your social media life. They will be larger and be displayed in a more prominent way. There will also be what they are calling a “cover photo” at the top of your profile which will show your personality and who you are. Sort of like your own personal brand.
One of the biggest alterations with the launch of the new profile will be the use of media. New applications with Netflix and Hulu will bring movies and TV shows to you on Facebook. Music will be integrated as well with brands like Spotify. Let your friends know what you are watching, listening, and feeling all in one place.
Oh yeah, and all of those times you’ve checked in on Facebook Places, a map will be created that tracks how you’ve moved along the years.
It’s great. I’m excited. What else is to come?
He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.
Harold Wilson
5 things you need to know about the Facebook Change
So I made a post about the previous Facebook change, but I thought in light of the recent events I should post again about it.
- Your news feed is different. Facebook is now a personalized “newspaper” for you. Some people, obviously not me, don’t log into Facebook every day or every hour for that matter. So this new news feed will allow you to see the highlights or headlines if you will of what has become most prominent in your own social network. It will also update chronologically as well.
- You can control what things you see most often. That little blue highlight button that you see whenever you hover over something in your news feed will allow you to select what type of stories are most important to you further customizing your own news feed. Pretty neat huh?
- If you get tired of the same news in your own social network at the top of your page you can simply click on the arrow that says see new stories. Always keeping you up-to-date on what your friends are doing.
- Notice the constant moving thing in your chat window? Yes Facebook has become not only like newspaper but like a news station. You will now stay on top of what all of your friends are doing in real time. For me, it just makes me comment on EVERYTHING that I see. What do you think?
- Pictures are bigger! You’ve probably noticed this one I’m sure, but the sizing of pictures have been shown larger on your news feed to allow for easier viewing.
Overall, I say I enjoy the new changes. It is A LOT to look at, but once I adjusted it was a cool experience. Facebook is wanting to become more of a social platform than anything. A place that you customize and can go to view things your social network is doing, saying, thinking, and feeling. There are reports that it will continue to change and develop throughout the week - so we will see what else is brought about.
Rebranding Yourself
I know it’s been awhile since I’ve blogged, but I needed to find something worth blogging about. I think I’ve found it.
I was browsing around on Facebook when PEPY, the tour company that we partnered with on the Cambodia trip posted a video about how they were rebranding themselves. How their logo doesn’t really match what their efforts are currently achieving in Cambodia. And then I began to think about how this can relate to each and every one of us on a personal level. Are we ourselves not constantly changing and altering our appearance and what we do in life? How does one go about rebranding themselves and how can that apply to a company?
The video goes on to explain that they had to analyze how their brand was being used currently first and how a new brand would be perceived since their current logo is so heavily infused with their organization. To analyze myself, how is my image used in what I do on a daily basis? It’s who I am. I represent the people I work for, the people I know, and myself personally. So yeah I would say my current brand plays a very active part in who I am.
The next step is to see where you are going in life and have your brand/logo reflect that. Where do I want to go in life? That’s a good question. I almost feel as though my brand is constantly in the brainstorming stage. Its edits are impacted by what happens at work or whom I speak with. There are days where I want to shoot documentaries. Days I want to work for a non-profit and do their social media. And others where I want to stroll down the red carpet and interview celebrities. (I’m pretty sure my Cambodia travels have led me to the first two more so.)
After the brainstorming stage PEPY, has decided on a logo and then shared it with response groups and then online to see the response before they go with the final push. Isn’t that what we do as well? Before we make a life decision such as moving to another state for a job or something like decided between 2% or skim milk, we reference our friends and families opinions. Now, what did Derek say about skim milk…was it better or worse for you? I know in choosing where my life takes me I research and ask if I can see myself in those places. I look for mentors like the PEPY team, WT Professors/Faculty, and people like Kelsey Timmerman and Blake Mycoskie. What do they do? How did they get there?
PEPY’s logo came up with a cool concept - one unique logo for the overall company and then altering that one logo to fit the different components that they represent, whether that be education or bike tours. The altering of a singular logo that represents a parent organization is brilliant. We all represent different things at different times in our lives. I know I want to do so much and at the same time be myself. When we rebrand ourselves we need to keep with the same person we are. Expand and grow upon what has been laid down beforehand.
One singular logo with several different facets.
One last time
March 19, 2011:
#2:
It’s weird to think we would have gone for a day and thought we were doing something good. You can’t go and volunteer for a day only - what good does that do? What impact does that really make in the long run? None. Nothing. We would have washed our hands with the service and moved on.
I’m thankful we didn’t go and waste our time. Time is more important than money. Something else that I learned. I wouldn’t say that this, made the trip worthless. I’m not disgusted by what we found out about the Somaly Mam foundation. I’m just reminded that I must look into things before I invest time.
In life though I will invest time in things that are wrong. It will happen. The trick is to learn, grow, and share when that happens. This has put everything on this trip together. Our story isn’t about giving mosquito nets or teaching English. It’s about knowing yourself and how to invest time and money. Daniela said she doesn’t believe in service learning anymore that it’s about learning service. This is what this trip is about.
I love my Kruesa and I’m sad to leave this beautiful country. It truly has been a pleasure seeing each student grow in their own way. Sage has a huge heart and shares that now. Bay Leaves is outspoken and faces fears. Garlic confronts their past and is able to wear their emotions proudly. Everyone has changed at least a little. The memories will last us a lifetime. It will be interesting to see how close our Kruesa becomes and how much of an impact stays.
For me, it’s in my heart. I’m gong to be more aware. I’m going to not care what petty problems arise. Life has bigger problems than what I face during the day. It’s time to move on. I’m going to bring things back. I’m going to share and explore. The journey doesn’t end here. My education continues. There is much to be done with the documentary. I’m sure that I’m going to continue to write in here as time goes on. To my Kruesa: I love you. To my true friends: I love you and can’t wait to share. To those that I lose or don’t know yet: let’s find ourselves.
“You get a strange feeling when you leave a place, I told him, like you’ll not only miss the people you love but you’ll miss the person you are now at this time and place, because you’ll never be this way again.” - Asar Nafisi
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Moving Forward with Fear
February 22, 2010:
We had the Cambodia class today and it was eventful. Students presented their ideas on women’s issues today. I thought they went well and showed the group different aspects of things.
Bay Leaves* finally broke from their shell! They made jokes during the presnetation and seemed to be engaging more.
We signed waivers and such from PEPY (the organization that we are going with/taking us around). I also brought in the XL2 camera to show them what it looks like and to get some footage of our class.
After their presentations, I played the Africa documentary for the class and went though the filmmakers pledge. I talked about what I’m going to do with it and how I’m balancing the role of peer leader and filmmaker. I feel like I got a lot of good classroom shots today. I got some nice rack focus’ of students’ faces as they watched the presentations.
Ginger also made it to class today! Ginger seems to be feeling a lot better and looks good. I was so happy to see them, I feel like they are almost a parent away from a parent.
After class some of the freshmen, Paprika and I went to the soda shop on the square for ice cream. It was nice to hangout with everyone outside of class. We all cracked jokes about Bay Leaves’ jokes and Saffron had some questions for me about what counted as a logo on a shirt for documentary copyright issues.
I really really like the 12 remaining students. We all get along well and have formed our little Kruesa.
The blog seems to be running smoothly. Everyone seems to understand the gravity of this trip. I made Garlic do a vlog before class so I’ll be posting this on the blog.
I’ve had my first friend change issue already and we haven’t even left yet. Today I was texting one of my friends Nutmeg about how I was scared of the personal change I’ll be making with this trip. Basically Nutmeg said that they doubt I will change and I’ll just go back to the same old me like two weeks later. Uhh, really? Hell no. I’m not traveling overseas to see firsthand the impacts of human trafficking and then just “oh well” the rest of my life. Vanilla, another friend, also agreed with Nutmeg which upset me even more. People have ended relationships from the trips, stopped drinking, and changed their thought process altogether. I called Pepper about this and they said they had completely changed. Pepper doesn’t hangout with the same friends - those that didn’t get it. Changed how Pepper looks at the world.
Pepper also said that there isn’t a point in changing their minds. They aren’t in my shoes. They aren’t going on a trip to another country. I just wonder about what my other friends think. How many will I loose? Life happens. Growth is for the good. This trip WILL impact my life.
*all names have been changed for privacy
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive
Harold Thurman Whitman
