The History and Impact of Facebook and Social Media

Facebook's Origins and Early Days

  • Mark Zuckerberg, an 18-year-old Harvard student, created Facemash, a website that posted pictures of students and invited users to vote on attractiveness. This caused server crashes and student complaints, leading to its shutdown.
  • In February 2004, Zuckerberg and friends launched Facebook.
  • By 2007, Facebook had 17 million users globally.

User Engagement and Impact

  • Facebook helped reconnect people and keep them in touch.
  • By February 2009, Facebook was blamed for distracting students and causing failing grades; researchers suggested students monitor their usage.
  • The platform also attracted hackers, common for popular internet platforms.
  • By 2011, Facebook had over 500 million users worldwide, with Canada having a high adoption rate (51%). Even the Queen had a Facebook account.

Facebook's Role in Social and Political Movements

  • During protests in North Africa and the Middle East, Facebook helped organize and disseminate information.
  • It played a role in bringing down authoritarian regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.

Legal Challenges and Hollywood's Portrayal

  • Zuckerberg faced a legal challenge from Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who claimed they invented Facebook; this led to the movie The Social Network.
  • The Social Network portrayed Zuckerberg as brilliant but ruthless, focusing on ambition and the cost to personal relationships.
  • The film was based on a book by Ben Mezrich, highlighting the betrayal and anger felt by some who worked with Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg's Public Image and Actions

  • Zuckerberg faced criticism over privacy issues.
  • He donated $100 million to charity on Oprah.

Critical Reception of The Social Network

  • Aaron Sorkin won Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes for The Social Network.
  • The film portrays social media builders as power-hungry and users as shallow, depicting Facebook as a glorified dating site.
  • Sorkin apologized to Zuckerberg, acknowledging his success and altruism.
  • The film was criticized for missing the mark on understanding the wired generation and the possibilities of social media.

Social Media's Impact on Crisis Response

  • During the earthquake in Haiti, social media played a crucial role in disaster relief.
  • Text messages sent to a toll-free number (4636) were used to gather information about victims' needs.
  • Ushahidi, a social media site developed in Nairobi, was used to map the locations of earthquake victims.
  • Crowdsourcing was used to translate Creole text messages into English, facilitating aid efforts.
  • Lukas Bewold's crowdsourcing platform scaled up a workforce to handle the crisis, involving people from 46 countries.

Crowdsourcing in Disaster Relief

  • Crowdsourcing allows companies to scale up quickly without predicting the number of people needed.
  • The Haitian diaspora, including people in Montreal, helped translate messages and pinpoint locations.
  • Messages from Haiti were managed and translated quickly, enabling rapid responses to emergencies.
  • Example: A pregnant woman in labor was located and assisted thanks to the quick translation and relay of information.

Conclusion

  • The social network has transformed how people meet and address challenges.
  • Social media's potential for good extends far beyond being a dating site, offering numerous possibilities for a connected world.