Why have a CCPN facebook profile?
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It was recommended by one of the CCPN Researcher Assistants who believed that Facebook would be a powerful tool to connect with people who share common interests on China and related studies;
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It was encouraged by two LSE prestigious Professors, also the Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) members of the CCPN, who use Facebook and advertise their events through the platform;
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The experimental experience of using Facebook could help CCPN, the only website with a focus on studying of networking (see Comparative Research on Chinese Relationships Network), to develop networking skills through creative interactions amongst people;
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The free capacity to upload an unlimited number of photos and share links and videos that Facebook provides the CCPN to explore a new way for public engagements (see: Public Engagements).
Since Facebook doesn't recognise institutions' email addresses, such ccpn@lse.ac.uk|, the CCPN coordinator, Dr Xiangqun Chang, registered a Facebook account with her gmail address: xiangqun.chang@gmail.com|, without her personal details, and created a group 'China in Comparative Perspective Network (CCPN)'.
Facebook can be a useful tool for promoting the CCPN, which attracted 96 people. We value them so will continue open the facebook in spite of its limitations.
Feedback
(1) Negative: the limitations of Facebook itself put off -
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90% of people who only use University email addresses without hotmail or gmail;
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from 80% of those who work in mainland China with less good English;
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10% of all the people who are not interested in such 'Facebook'.
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Facebook can't be opened anymore in China since early July 2009.
(2) Positive:
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The CCPN Facebook's members are mostly overseas Chinese students who are interested in China, and some friends from everywhere;
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Amongst the CCPN Facebook's members only small numbers overlap with the CCPN members. The new members brought fresher blood into the CCPN;
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In our recent events some members of the audience received the information of the events via Facebook posts;
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We shared some useful and interested information and videos posted by our members;
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LSE Asia Forum (www.lse.ac.uk/asiaforum) also set up a page on the facebook, see: www.facebook.com/LSEasiaforum .
Therefore, we will continue to use Facebook. Here is the Facebook website: www.facebook.com| or http://en-gb.facebook.com/| . All are welcome to participate!
Note: the above page was updated in 2009. Although Facebook has been quickly developed and broadly used, the problems that we found then are still there. We treat the Facebook as one of avenues for promoting the CCPN.