組別：英文組
類別：論文類
The Popular Social Networking Website－Facebook
Abstract
Nowadays, with advance and progress of technology, the Internet has become an
indispensable medium in our lives. In particular, social networking websites develop
prosperously, and even play an important role in our lives. For example, the popular
social networking websites – Facebook is loved by all ages. The reason why
Facebook causes a sensation is it has various kinds of games and psychological tests.
People can view the latest situation of their friends, which makes it easy for people to
grasp where friends are all the time by smart phone. Through questionnaire survey, we
learn that the most attractive game on Facebook is Happy Farm. In addition, we
analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of Facebook.The advantages include the
functions like blogs as well as a lot of games, while the disadvantage is that its
stability is not enough. Some users consider that the games on Facebook lacking the
sense of freshness. Besides, they hope Facebook can present new games constantly.
Other users think that although Facebook possess the functions such as blogs.
However, they don’t have the authority to design their website content by themselves.
Therefore, they can’t show their uniqueness. Even so, most users are satisfied with
Facebook. We believe that as long as Facebook can improve the problems which were
proposed by users. Facebook will be more and more popular in the world.
Keywords: Facebook, Social Networking Website
摘要
在今日，隨著科技的發達與進步，網際網路已成為我們生活中不可或缺的媒
介。尤其社群網站更為蓬勃發展，甚至在我們生活中扮演著重要的角色。像是當
紅的社群網站─Facebook 就深受各個年齡層的喜愛。Facebook 造成如此轟動是
因為它有不同種類的小遊戲和心理測驗。此外，它還可以透過智慧型手機隨時掌
握親朋好友的最新動態。我們透過問卷調查得知 Facebook 上最具吸引力的遊戲
是開心農場。我們也分析出 Facebook 的優缺點，優點像是它擁有像部落格的功
能和許多小遊戲，缺點像是它的穩定性是比較不足的。有些使用者反應 Facebook
的遊戲新鮮感不夠，並希望它可以不斷推陳出新遊戲，也有使用者認為雖然
Facebook 擁有類似部落格的功能，但它無法讓我們隨意設計自己的網頁，因而，
無法展現出自己的獨特性。即便如此，仍有 75%的使用者對此社群網站感到滿意。
我們相信假使 Facebook 能改善這些使用者所提出的問題，一定能使此社群網站
更受歡迎。
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Table of Contents
Abstract-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------i
Table of Contents-------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii
I. Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
I.1. Background of the Study---------------------------------------------------------------1
I.2. Motivation of the Study----------------------------------------------------------------1
I.3. Purposes of the Study-------------------------------------------------------------------1
II. Methods of the Study----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
II.1. Literature Review-------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
II.2. Questionnaire Survey-----------------------------------------------------------------2
II.3. Flow Chart -----------------------------------------------------------------------------2
III. Discussion---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
III.1. Major Social Networking Service of Facebook---------------------------------- 2
III.2. The Issues of Privacy---------------------------------------------------------------- 4
III.3. The SWOT Analysis of Facebook------------------------------------------------- 5
III.4. Others Competing Websites-------------------------------------------------------- 5
III.5. The Questionnaire Data Analysis-------------------------------------------------- 6
IV. Suggestions---------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
V. Conclusion-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
VI. References ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
VII. Appendix-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------13
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I. Introduction
I.1. Background of the Study
We are in a computerized world. Without a doubt, using computer plays an
important role in our lives. Howard Gardner is an educational doctor in Harvard
University. He thinks aside from language and intelligence, the wisdom of human
beings also includes space, body, interpersonal relationship, music, introspection,
observation and so on. As the proverb goes,“A scholar does not step outside his gate,
yet he knows the happening under the sun.” Internet can help us realize the
development of the world. Nowadays, the functions of Internet even contain chatting,
sending letters, writing articles, sharing films, videos and so on.
In recent years, the social networking website of Harvard University has become
an international extensive social networking website. It uses games to help make
friends. Making friends becomes simple and no stress. Because Facebook only takes
little time to make you know each other, the range of making friends become wider.
As a result, Facebook get a great popularity.
I.2. Motivation of the Study
The age layer of Facebook users are diverse and Facebook may cause some
privacy problems. There is no doubt that Facebook is a common social networking
website nowadays. Therefore, our team thinks that any success depends on the
support of the public. We even want to comprehend and discuss the reason why
Facebook gets such an unexpected success.
I.3. Purposes of the Study
(1) To realize the most attractive game for the users on Facebook
(2) To research the advantages and disadvantages of Facebook
(3) To understand the satisfaction of the users on Facebook
II. Methods of the Study
II.1. Literature Review
1
We search the topic of Facebook through books, magazines, and the sources on
the Internet. We archive the information about this topic to understand the
development of Facebook.
II.2. Questionnaire Survey
According to the questions on the questionnaire, we try to divide and define
Facebook’s group. Then, we try to explore Facebook’s disadvantages and advantages
based on the results from the questionnaire. Finally, we organize the results in the
papers and make suggestions and conclusions.
II.3. Flow Chart
develop the research subject
↓
confirm the research subject
↓
study the research subject
↓
search related information
↓
arrange typesetting
↓
design and deliver the questionnaire
↓
recover and count the questionnaire
↓
conclusion and suggestion
↓
complete the project
Figure 1. The Process of Researching Project
III. Discussion
III.1. Major Social Networking Service of Facebook
Social networking websites provide internet pals who have similar interests a
place where they can build and strengthen the social interaction on the Internet. Most
of social networking websites provide services for users to interact with each other,
including chatting, sending e-mails and videos, sharing files, writing articles on blogs
2
and taking part in the group of discussion.
It is Facebook that it combines these functions after the revision. The reason
why Facebook is more popular than any other social networking service is that it is
not limited by what we called the “Limited Groups”. Mark Zuckerberg expressed that
he designed his logo as figure2 with simple blue words and white background.
Moreover, he considered simplicity means that everyone can use this web. He
considered that people may dislike those gorgeous layouts so he used the blue to
represent freedom and the white to stand for simplicity to constitute the logo. In
addition, the logo makes a good impression on people. Facebook provides some
functions which are the keys to success:
Figure 2. The Picture of Facebook Logo
III.1.1. The participation of fans：
Facebook will hold some simple activities from time to time. For instance, they
will invite some popular stars to take part in the activities so as to have the fans realize
what is called “a sense of participation”. The games on Facebook will even introduce
new activities or new features so that the users will not feel bored but were attracted
by the website.
III.1.2. The immediate response to fans’ comments and problems：
Facebook set an important department to respond to the comments and questions
of fans. Behind the successful websites, there are vast fans to support them. Therefore,
as long as fans have difficulty in something, Facebook will respond and deal with the
questions immediately that make them feel being valued so that they are willing to
support Facebook. Besides, Facebook will integrate all the negative comments to find
out how to make progress.
III.1.3. The establishment of effective talking space and enhanced interpersonal
relationships：
3
Facebook offers people a simple setting that makes it possible to contact
strangers. People will like this website because they feel that they are popular by
means of this function. However, people will only interact with the people whom they
know on Facebook by chatting because they are “unfamiliar with” those Internet pals.
Those who will spend a lot of time on Facebook are usually unpopular in the real
world. Because people do not have to communicate with them face to face in the real
world, they are not under stress and are protected by the Internet. This is the key to
success of social networking website that deliberately maintains some kind of distance
and thus enables the contact and communication to be easier.
III.1.4. Commercial use
The application on Facebook can not only be used to play games, but also be
used in commercial applications such as Yu-Jan-Shin. Yu-Jan-Shin release the“Mazu
cookies”in the way to send bonus(free exchange gifts) by Facebook to attract more
customers. As the result, the sales volume reaches up to NT$ 20,000 each day. In
order to attract new clients to join, as long as you enroll your account, you can get the
bonus points. Therefore, it often gets the majority of the response on the Internet.
Shops can use this simple way to improve their sales. Besides, customers can discuss
on the Internet and communicate with the shops. Therefore, the shops can know what
products the customers really need. Then, the shops can have a wider range of orders
than before.
III.1.5. Community service
Facebook can also be used in the community service, such as a charity bazaar
club which initiates an activity named“Donate Hundred Dollars Each Month to Save
Dogs and Cats”on the Facebook. Their goal is to help stray animals’ lives to be safe
and healthy. Only donate one hundred NT dollars can exchange one CD or DVD even
album. Although this is a simple act but it can bring a lot of assistances to animals.
Facebook which is widely-known to people around the world is willing to help those
animals in need. Facebook uses this way to help those who are benevolent combine
their power.
III.2. The Issues of Privacy
“We offer the complete control to the users, so the information of Facebook will
not be leaked to the whole Internet. The users desire to have further control over their
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personal information which the people can view.” (Kelly C, 2007). According to these
words, the purpose of Facebook is to improve the relations among people. Yet, there
are still some problems of privacy. Recently Facebook allow users to set the using
right so that they can share their pictures as well as articles to specific groups or
people that the users appoint. This is Facebook’s improvement for privacy.
III.3. The SWOT Analysis of Facebook
SWOT analysis can be used to realize the superiority of the product on the
market with the simple chart. Therefore, our team make a simple SWOT chart. The
following is the analysis and discussion of Facebook which is made by our team.
Chart1. The SWOT Analysis of Facebook
Strengths
Weaknesses
1. The most popular social networking
service recently.
2. Facebook has many simple and easy
games and people can easilier use it.
3. It’s easy for people to make new friends.
4. Facebook has a wide selection of games
and suits people from all ages.
Opportunities
1. Have less personal privacy.
2. Some negative news continuously make
impacts on Facebook.
3. Some users spend too much money on the
Facebook games.
Threats
1. Combining the commercial products help 1. Other social networking services release
improve people’s willingness to take part
their new games continuously.
in.
2. It’s easier for others social networking
2. Most users of this social networking
services to imitate the games because of
service are young people. Therefore, to
thier simple designs.
grasp the young people also grasps the
3. If Facebook does not revise or release new
business, too.
games, it will likely to be replaced.
3. Smartphone combining the function of
Facebook makes people use this web
easilier.
III.4. Others Competing Websites
There are some social networking websites which compete with Facebook as
follows：1. MySpace: Thanks to excessive commercialization, most users do not like it.
5
2. Twitter: Presently, most of the twitter’s users are in western countries. Because the
interface is presented in English, it is not popular in Taiwan. 3. Plurk: It has gotten a
lot of popularity in Taiwan. If it keeps on adding new functions, it will pose a threat to
Facebook.
Chart 2. The comparison between Facebook and Other Social Networking Websites
The name of social
networking website
Advantages
Disadvantages
Facebook
1. Own the functions
1. Not have enough stability.
such as blogs.
2. Have some negative news.
2. Have ample games and
psychological tests.
MySpace
1. Have straightforward
functions.
2. No limitation on the
quantity of friends.
1. After excessive
commercialization, the
popularity decreases quickly.
2. Not have games or
psychological tests.
Twitter
1. Most celebrities,
movie stars, and the
news of media choose
to use it.
1. The limitation of messages is
within 140 words.
2. Presently, it is still presented
interface in English, so it
doesn’t attract to Internet Pals
in Taiwan.
Plurk
1. Have interface of
1. The limitation of messages is
Chinese.
within140 words.
2. Have the better privacy 2. Have no functions of photo
protection.
album.
III.5. The Questionnaire Data Analysis
We can let the users understand easily through the questionnaires. We present the
findings of survey through sampling and statistics. We found one hundred participants
to fill out this questionnaire.
6
III.5.1. The analysis about age and gender：
45
According
to Figure 3, female
participants are 71% users and male
participants are 39% users. Besides, the
majority of the users age is between
sixteen and twenty. According to the
statistics, we can learn that the female
users are more than male. Moreover,
most users are junior high school and
senior high school students.
40
35
30
25
ma l e
fe ma l e
20
15
10
5
0
12~ 15
16~ 20
21↑
Figure 3. The chart of users’age and gender
III.5.2. The rate of users whether get in touch with Facebook or not：
60
Based on Figure 4, we can learn that
there are 90% of participants once
getting in touch with Facebook. As a
result, we can learn Facebook has
expanded into the group of young
people.
50
40
m ale
f em ale
30
20
10
0
co n tact
n o t co n tact
Figure 4. The proportion of contact of Facebook
III.5.3. The analysis of use frequency for users：
25
Figure 5 shows that there are 50% of
participants
who
use
Facebook
everyday, and there are 19% of
participants using Facebook once a
month.
20
15
m ale
f em ale
10
5
0
ev er y d ay
o n ce a
week
o v er a
m o n th
Figure 5. The chart of the use of frequency
7
III.5.4. The analysis on how much time users spend on Facebook：
30
25
20
15
male
10
female
5
0
under 30
minutes
1 to 2
hours
Figure 6 indicates that there are 44% of
participants who use Facebook under 30
minutes once a time, and there are 24% of
participants who use Facebook above two
hours once a time.
over 2
hours
Figure 6. The time chart
III.5.5. The analysis of using place：
50
45
40
35
30
25
m a le
f e m a le
20
15
10
According to Figure 7, it shows that 90%
of participants use Facebook at home, and
the percentage of using at other places is
very low. Through this, we can conclude
that users regard Facebook as an
entertainment after they finish their all day
work.
5
0
a t hom e
a t sc hool a t of f ic e
othe r
pla c e s
Figure 7. The chart of using place
III.5.6. The analysis of enjoying the games on Facebook or not：
50
Based on Figure 8, there are 75% of
participants enjoying playing Facebook
games; however, there are just 20% of
participants don’t like to play the games
on Facebook. Therefore, most of
participants are satisfied with Facebook.
45
40
35
30
ma le
fe ma le
25
20
15
10
5
0
li ke
di sl i ke
Figure 8. The chart of liking build-in games
8
III.5.7. The analysis of why they like Facebook：
40
According to Figure 9, there are 56%
35
30
25
20
ma l e
fe ma le
15
10
5
0
for fun
ki l l t i me ma ke ne w
fri e nds
ot he rs
of participants who contact Facebook
just to kill time without speific
purpose. Besides, 26% of particpants
using Facebook just for fun. The
purpose of 12% of people is to get
acquainted with more friends. As a
result, most of participants use
Facebook because they have no idea
about what they can do in their spare
time.
Figure 9. The reason why they are fond of Facebook
III.5.8. The analysis of games of Facebook that is popular among men and women：
Figure 10 shows that there are 29% of
male participants like Happy Farm, 24%
like My Kingdom, 18% like Happy
Aquarium, 11% like Animal Paradise,
and 11% like Littlewar. The statistics
above shows the most popular games
among males are Happy Farm and My
Kingdom.
Ha ppy
Aqua ri um
Ha ppy F a rm
Ani ma l
P a ra di se
Li tt l e wa r
My Kingdom
ot he rs
Figure 10. The chart of the games of Facebook that male like.
Based on Figure 11, 30% female
participants like Happy Aquarium, 25%
like Happy Farm, 15% like My Kingdom,
14% like Animal Paradise, and 10% like
Littlewar. According to the statistics
above, the most popular games among
females are Happy Aquarium and Happy
Farm. Due to the two statistics in Figure
10 and 11, men and women like different
kinds of games, but Happy Farm is
popular both with male and female users.
Ha ppy
Aqua ri um
Ha ppy F a rm
Ani m a l
P a ra di s e
Li t t l e wa r
My Ki ngdom
ot he rs
Figure 11. The chart of games which female like
9
III.5.9. The analysis on the games of Facebook which male and female users dislike：
Figure 12 indicates that 23% of males
dislike My Kingdom, 13% dislike
Happy Farm, 13% dislike Littlewar,
11% dislike Happy Aquarium, 8%
dislike Animal Paradise, and 29%
dislike other games.
Ha ppy
Aqua ri um
Ha ppy F a rm
Ani ma l
P a ra di se
Li t t le wa r
My Ki ngdom
ot he rs
Figure 12. The chart of games which male dislike
Based on Figure 13, 4% of female
dislike My Kingdom, 9% dislike
Animal Paradise, 12% dislike Happy
Farm, 15% dislike Happy Aquarium,
15% dislike Littlewar, and 21% dislike
other games. The figure 12 and figure
13 show that users like well-known
games best.
Ha ppy
Aqua ri um
Ha ppy F a rm
Ani ma l
P a ra di se
Li t t l e wa r
My Ki ngdom
ot he rs
Figure 13. The chart of games which female dislike
III.5.10. The analysis of why users do not play the games of Facebook anymore：
According to Figure 14, there are 15%
of participants thinking playing those
games is a waste of time, 35% of
participants think that the quality of
those games is bad, 40% of
participants think those games don’t
attract them anymore. The statistics
show that most users are tired of the
consistent and unchanged styles so
25
20
15
male
10
female
5
0
the games
are too
monotonous
the qulaities
of games are
unstable
Figure 14. The reasons why they dislike play the games
on Facebook
10
that they will think that playing those
games is a waste of time.
III.5.11. The analysis of those who never connect Facebook would like to give it a
try：
25
20
15
ma le
fe ma l e
10
5
0
ye s
no
Figure15. There are 75 % of participants
who are willing to give it a try. However,
there are 25 % of participants who have no
interest in those games. Therefore, if the
corporation of Facebook wants to make
their social networking even better than
before, they should take this potential
market into account.
Figure 15. The scale drawing of those who never
connect Facebook would like to try it
IV. Suggestions
Generally speaking, Facebook has been a popular social networking website, users
are able to play games on Facebook, chat with friends, and acquire news without
paying anything. Through the response of users, we think Facebook should improve
itself in order to gain more users to use it. Besides, because the users on Facebook
complain that the computer will be suddenly out of control when playing the games
on Facebook. We think Facebook should improve the unstable weakness.
The cycle time of market is very short. Therefore, we think Facebook is supposed
to release new games constantly, which help users maintain the sense of freshness so
that Facebook is able to grasp the whole market.
Facebook has the similar functions as blog, but users can’t be free to design their
own blog on Facebook. In order to attract those people, Facebook probably can add
the function to allow users to build a homepage by themselves .Then, every time they
log in, they can see the interface which they design. Through this, users can show
their uniqueness. Therefore, Facebook can become more diverse and make users
enjoy it more.
V. Conclusion
In the beginning, we were not familiar with Facebook, but after investigating, we
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learned more about it, including the differences between Facebook and other social
networking websites, the age of users, a variety of functions on Facebook, and why
Facebook is more popular than others. We realized the users’ opinions toward
Facebook through questionnaire survey. We think after using it for a period of time,
most users will like it and enjoy the convenience and advantages it bring. On the other
hand, Facebook should present more interesting games and services than before to
maintain its dominant status in market. Facebook can be used in the commerce and
other public aspects. Therefore, Facebook has a great potential to develop other
functions in the future.
VI. References
1. 宋辰來（譯）（2005）。給愛電腦的你。臺北縣：正中出版社。
2. 詹宏志（2010）。虛擬大國Facebook的誕生。數位時代雜誌，12，59-67。
3. 陳曉莉（譯）（2011）。Twitter釋出搜尋工具，推廣商業使用，2011年9月18
日，取自
http://www.ithome.com.tw/itadm/article.php?c=56200
4. Facebook的成功之道（2008）。數位時代雜誌。2011年9月26日，取自
http://www.bnext.com.tw/article/view/cid/0/id/9472
5. Kelly C. （2007）。保護隱私。2011年10月2日，取自
http://www.zdnet.com.tw/news/software/0,2000085678,20120863,00.
VII. Appendix
Questionnaire survey
Hello:
We are students from Department of Applied Foreign Language in National
Tsaotun Commercial and Industrial Vocation Senior High School. This questionnaire
is made up to understand your viewpoint on Facebook. There are no rights or wrong
answers to questions in this questionnaire. Please choose the best answer according to
your point of view. The information you provide is only for the academic research. The
questionnaire is only for our senior project. It’s not open to public, please fill in
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according to your recent condition, thank you!
1. Gender : □Male
□Female
2. Age : □12~15 □16~20 □above 21
3. Have you ever used Facebook ? □Yes
question12. )
□No ( If you choose”No”,please turn to
4. How often do you use Facebook ? □everyday □once a week □once a month
5. How long do you use Facebook a time ? □less than 30 min
□above 2 hours
□1 hour to 2 hours
6. Where do you usually use Facebook ? □at home □at school
□ others
□at office
7. Do you enjoy playing the games of Facebook ? □Yes □No ( If you
choose”No”,please turn to question11.)
8. Why do you like Facebook ? □just for fun □just to kill time □just to acquaint
more friends □others
9. Which games do you like most : □Happy Aquarium □Happy Farm
Paradise □Littlewar □My Kindom □others
□Animal
10. Which games do you dislike most ? □Happy Aquarium □Happy Farm
□Animal Paradise □Littlewar □My Kindom □others
11. Why don’t you like Facebook ? □The sense of freshness disappear too fast □It
wastes time □The quality of games is unstable
12. Do you want to contact Facebook ? □Yes □No (This question is prepared for the
people who answer ”No” at the question 3. )
* This is the end of the questionnaire survey, thank you very much *
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