IU’s Facebook page in top 5 most popular

From news feeds and bumper stickers to personal groups and University fan bases, there is no doubt Facebook has become a key social networking tool.

IU’s Facebook page is among the top five most popular university pages in the country, along with Stanford University, Ohio State University, Texas A&M University and the University of Kansas, according to Inside Facebook, a Facebook tracking site for developers and marketers.

IU is recognized with more than 32,000 fans and a constantly updated homepage.

“I would really have to attribute it to the enthusiasm of the Hoosier fan base,” said Thom Atkinson, IU’s campus Web manager, who is to thank for the creation and upkeep of IU’s Facebook page.

Atkinson said the page is constantly updating with Hoosiers events and news. Though a number of current students serve as fans to the page, a large percentage of the active fans consists of IU alumni. The page’s photography comes from the archives of the Office of University of Communications and is used to produce those “classic iconic scenes” the fans aim to see.

Fans have the ability to upload videos and photos and add comments on the discussion boards, making suggestions on ways to update the page to reach an even larger fan base. Atkinson said the workers of the page take these comments to heart and try to accommodate the desires of the fan base by listening to each individual voice.

For instance, Scott Richmer of Louisville, Ky., made a request for “a large list of notable alumni,” as he wrote, “people that we can all look to as examples or role models.”

Although the list is extensive, the Web site masters think it would be a significant addition to the site and are working toward developing the list.

But other fans use the page as a place to comment on IU campus life, such as Vickie Maris Schrader, from Memphis, Tenn., who wrote, “GREAT SCHOOL, FRIENDS, AND GOOD TIMES!”

Although IU’s page has thousands of fans, the important aspect is to make sure people are participating and interacting through the database on the site. Atkinson said the key to maintaining a steady flow of participation is guiding the discussion to stay on related topics and keeping the page new and interactive. He said the number of fans has risen solely through the networking between friends and alumni.

Web site designers have been putting most of their effort during the past two or three months into redesigning IU Bloomington’s homepage, which will be released Monday.
After the IU Web site is up and running, Atkinson said he hopes to spend more time improving IU’s Facebook page, although it remains unofficial.

“Our purpose is to give something back to the audience of fans who have put themselves out there and declared publicly their affection and loyalty to our institution,” Atkinson said.

Through all of these new interactive creations, Gregory Rawlins, associate professor of computer science, said what lies ahead for the future of networking is unthinkable.

“Early generations have a totally different notion of privacy,” Rawlins said. “An entire generation is growing up with new tools that are allowing them to show their lives with complete strangers.”

With the rise in social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, Rawlins said there has never been anything like this before.

“This will not be harming our nation – it will be changing our nation, that’s all,” Rawlins said. “I can’t tell you how, because no one knows, but it’s quite a large change because it’s happening in a short time.”