With more than 300 million users worldwide, one of the most popular social bookmarking sites in the world is Facebook. The site provides an opportunity for individuals to keep in touch with their friends. One of the most popular feature of Facebook is its applications, which powers most of its user preferred features such as photo and video sharing, user groups, events. Facebook apps are installed by default on every user’s profile and may not be deleted. There are more than 350,000 applications in Facebook developed by thousands of third-party developers based from different parts of the world.
Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckenberg along with his fellow computer science students Eduardo Saverin, Chris Hughes, and Dustin Moskovitz while still pursuing their studies at Harvard University. Initially, the site was an exclusive site for Harvard students, then to other institutions in Boston, Ivy League, and Stanford University. Eventually, it expanded to university and high school students. He invented the site on October 28, 2003, which was then known as Facemash. Zuckenberg was charged by the administration of Harvard for breach of security as well as for copyrights and individual privacy violations and faced expulsion. He was, however, cleared of these charges.
The Need For Applications
Social networking sites such as Facebook have provided an opportunity for individuals to collaborate with other people worldwide. On May 24, 2007, Facebook platform was launched and provided a framework for developers to create applications that would interact with the core features of the site. With the introduction of the Facebook Markup Language, it became possible for developers to customize the “look and feel” of their applications. With the platform, several new applications were launched, among them Gifts, which allowed users to send virtual gifts to each other. As of July 2008, there are a total of 33,000 Facebook applications.
Essentially, the first place to locate a Facebook application is the official App Directory of the site. It is accessible by clicking on the “Applications” button in the lower left section of the screen or by clicking “Browse More Applications” link.
The app directory also provides a list of external web sites that connect with Facebook, mobile and desktop applications and “prototypes.” which are new or in beta form. Essentially, there are five ways you can search for an application, you can search for featured applications, those that you like, applications that performs a specific task, or the applications that your friends are using. If you do not have an idea of the application you are looking for, you can browse the different categories of the App Directory.
As you search for applications, there is a brief introduction to each as well as their star rating, the number of users who actively use the application and the number of your friends using it. Likewise, you would see a little green check mark which signifies that the application is verified by Facebook.
Installing A Facebook App
To add the application you chose, click on the “Go to Application” button below its logo. If the application is already added, another click will open the actual program. If it is not yet installed, you will be directed to a page requesting for your permission to open your Facebook data. In some apps, you will be required to come up with a name for your character.
Facebook has become more than just a social networking site that Mark Zuckenberg intended it to be. Follow these tips and you will be on your way to making the most out of your Facebook application.