Spring Break
Facebook Interface
Nadine Anheier
Issue date: 8/29/05 Section: Culture
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1. Picture - Much of your profile's sway lies in the picture. Is it goofy? Are you seducing the camera? Some people may never even read about you if your picture is some slap-dash senior thing or, God forbid, nothing at all.
2. Basic Information and Contact Information - These are exactly what they sound like. Basic information is your school, graduating year, sex, major(s), hometown, and high school. Granted, some choose to get creative even in these areas - dance and harpsichord seem to be favorite fake majors among some students. This information can be essential to finding old high school friends, since you can click on your high school or graduating year and get a list of people with the same information.
3. Personal Information - This is where we get to the nitty-gritty. You can indicate here whether you're off the market (and even point out who you're dating, as long as they confirm it), and directly beneath it, your political leanings. Students' interests are as varied as the sun, though many seem interested in "sleep."
4. The Favorites - Ah, yes. The old standby. Aren't these the things you ask people when you first meet them? Favorite music, movies and books, the few things by which you are justified in judging others before you really know them. Are you an emo/comedy/classics? Are you hip-hop/drama/romance novels? Stand and be judged, for this is your facebook fate. Oh yeah, and favorite quotes.
5. About Me - You may be asking yourself, "Why do I now need an about me paragraph when I just spent forever writing down everything there is to know about me?" Well, kids, sometimes the true nature of our souls isn't conveyed through our favorites and majors. Use this space to say something really meaningful to your audience, like "My parents were poor cheese farmers and the long, hard days in the Swiss fields taught me things about not only the world, but myself." (Not Pictured)
6. Groups - Who you are is just as important as who you associate with (see "Mean Girls," 2004). Nearly everyone is connected to "I go to UMKC, therefore I Am Brilliant," but the smaller groups like "No One Else Likes My Music" and "Closet DDR Fans" can really put a spin on your profile.
7. Courses - A good way to determine whether someone's actually a harpsichord major or not. Also a great way to find some extra help in a class or make friends before you even walk in the door.
8. Wall - Your wall serves many purposes. One is to determine whether your friends are funny, clever and good at spelling. Another is a gauge of your general popularity. Does your wall extend as long as the profile above? Could there be more? If you're the only one writing on it...well, join a group, buddy.
9. Friends - Gotta have 'em. Where would you be without friends? Lean on me...when you're not strong...and I'll be your friend! See? Friends. The end.
nanheier@unews.com
2. Basic Information and Contact Information - These are exactly what they sound like. Basic information is your school, graduating year, sex, major(s), hometown, and high school. Granted, some choose to get creative even in these areas - dance and harpsichord seem to be favorite fake majors among some students. This information can be essential to finding old high school friends, since you can click on your high school or graduating year and get a list of people with the same information.
3. Personal Information - This is where we get to the nitty-gritty. You can indicate here whether you're off the market (and even point out who you're dating, as long as they confirm it), and directly beneath it, your political leanings. Students' interests are as varied as the sun, though many seem interested in "sleep."
4. The Favorites - Ah, yes. The old standby. Aren't these the things you ask people when you first meet them? Favorite music, movies and books, the few things by which you are justified in judging others before you really know them. Are you an emo/comedy/classics? Are you hip-hop/drama/romance novels? Stand and be judged, for this is your facebook fate. Oh yeah, and favorite quotes.
5. About Me - You may be asking yourself, "Why do I now need an about me paragraph when I just spent forever writing down everything there is to know about me?" Well, kids, sometimes the true nature of our souls isn't conveyed through our favorites and majors. Use this space to say something really meaningful to your audience, like "My parents were poor cheese farmers and the long, hard days in the Swiss fields taught me things about not only the world, but myself." (Not Pictured)
6. Groups - Who you are is just as important as who you associate with (see "Mean Girls," 2004). Nearly everyone is connected to "I go to UMKC, therefore I Am Brilliant," but the smaller groups like "No One Else Likes My Music" and "Closet DDR Fans" can really put a spin on your profile.
7. Courses - A good way to determine whether someone's actually a harpsichord major or not. Also a great way to find some extra help in a class or make friends before you even walk in the door.
8. Wall - Your wall serves many purposes. One is to determine whether your friends are funny, clever and good at spelling. Another is a gauge of your general popularity. Does your wall extend as long as the profile above? Could there be more? If you're the only one writing on it...well, join a group, buddy.
9. Friends - Gotta have 'em. Where would you be without friends? Lean on me...when you're not strong...and I'll be your friend! See? Friends. The end.
nanheier@unews.com
