Still learning.

It’s been three years since I last posted, and there have been changes in the Learning 2.0 world. Facebook has been changed and changed again. Features have come and gone, and the privacy policy has been changed. Right now, users are being switched over to a new format called Timeline, which is supposed to make the Facebook experience feel more like an online scrapbook of one’s life. I have not yet switched my account over to the timeline, and am going to hold off on that as long as possible.

I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook. I love how easy it makes it for me to keep up with organizations that I care about, such as my bike group, or businesses that offer good deals or coupons via posts. I have enjoyed reconnecting with friends from my high school days, and keeping in touch with distant relatives who I would otherwise probably not hear from except at the holidays. I dislike all the games, and have blocked them all from my wall. I dislike getting friend requests from people that I really don’t know. Usually I don’t accept those requests, but occasionally, I still feel an obligation to do so. I particularly have a hard time with requests from work colleagues. I don’t really want them to know what I am up to in my private life (not that I have much to hide, but still), and it is awkward to say, I like working with you, but I don’t want to be your friend!

Besides Facebook, there is now Google+. After an early buzz, where a person had to be invited to join, it’s now open to all, and has some features that address my concerns regarding what gets shared with whom. I like the circles feature. You can put each connection that you make in specific circles that you create, i.e. “Family,” “Close friends,” “Acquaintances,” “Colleagues,” and so on. When you post anything, you can choose which circles get to see that post. So far, not that many of the people I am connected with on Facebook have signed up with Google+, however, when enough of the ones I care about do, I will probably stop using Facebook altogether.