Using Facebook in university educational environments: Considerations and recommendations

Participation of university students in social networking systems is already part of their life and, with the connection from mobile devices, such participation has grown dramatically. The potential of social networks use in educational dynamics has been the subject of many research work, and it has been evident the importance of some implementation aspects; from the negative connotations when using such systems to security issues. There are many publications related to diverse topics related to this, but they are scattered among many sources, making it difficult to identify relevant issues to review when planning social networking incorporation into educational processes. Because of this, and the fact of Facebook being now one of the most used social networking systems, in this report, based on a review of the related literature, following key points are documented: the motives and purposes of using Facebook as a social network system, the perception of students and teachers about its educational application in several areas, the risky behavior by young people and some protective measures. Finally and as a guide, a series of advices is provided for those teachers interested in linking the use of social networks to their educational practice.