Facebook as a Student Development Tool

Facebook is one of the more popular online social networks that took advantage of the computer-mediated communication (CMC) services such as instant messaging, forums and direct messaging with publication services such as blogging and sharing of content to form a service that connected the members within the system to each other. This ability to connect was one of the key aspects leading to the quick adoption of Facebook by Americans ages 15 to 29 (Benbunan-Fich, Adler, & Mavlanova, 2009). This age group forms the primary cohort of students entering most colleges and universities throughout the world. Facebook on college campuses has been a point of interest to student development professionals as it allows those professionals to take a holistic view of how the student survives and succeeds in the higher education environment.

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