What social networking sites do you use?

How often do you use them? More on weekends than weekdays?

If you don't mind, show your partner some of the status updates or messages you've sent recently?
What do you usually talk about and with whom?

Do you think that social networking sites can deepen relationships? Harm them? In what ways?

How concerned are you with privacy issues?
[For example, if you're a Facebook user, do you allow only friends to see updates or friends of friends as well, etc.]

Over the last week, an American Congressman, Anthony Weiner, has had his political future derailed in a scandal after he accidentally sent out a photo of himself in his underwear to his Twitter followers. 
[If you're not already familiar with the story, with your partner, refer to the story "Anthony Weiner admits to online relationships" at the CBS news site (access through nicenet's link sharing).]

What do you think of the Anthony Weiner case? Do you think he should resign for what he did? Why or why not?
Does it matter that he was using his home PC (not government PC)?

Have you (or any of your friends) made an embarrassing mistake using social networking? 
If it's not too embarrassing, please explain it.
How do you think it could have been avoided?

Many workplaces block social networking sites? What do you think about this?

How might social networking enhance working environments?

If you were "the boss" in your office, what policy would you have about social networking?

With your partner, take a look at the long list of social networking sites at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites [You can find this link on nicenet's link sharing.]
Try to answer these questions about them.

If you were searching for a job, which ones might you use?

If you wanted to network with people about environmental or social issues, which sites would you use?

If you wanted to communicate with people about travel which ones would you use?

If you're a teacher and would like to network with other teachers, which systems would you use?

If you're interested in music, which ones might you join?

Go to a few of the less familiar social networking sites and prepare to explain the concept behind them to the rest of the class.

put the stuff up on grad student site