Sheffield Hallam University student magazine article published May 2008: SHOULD FACEBOOK BE BANNED ON UNIVERSITY COMPUTERS?

It’s that time of year again, deadlines and exams are looming and all your waking hours are spent in the learning centre (honestly!) This stressful period is made even more frustrating when you pace around scanning for an available computer only to see Facebook on every other screen. Of course, when you hunt down and log on to a PC, it’s the first site you check. But we all like to think we wouldn’t sit there and unashamedly hog a computer just to check status updates or upload last night’s drunken photos… or would we? Think about how little time you actually spend communicating with Facebook friends compared to the countless hours perusing profiles and applications!

There are 2,700 computers for 30,000 students at Sheffield Hallam University. That’s eleven students to each computer. So I got to thinking, would there be more computers available if we COULDN’T access Facebook and other social networking sites at University? Apparently it is possible for Universities to block access to individual sites – some workplaces have banned social networking sites because they distract staff.

I’m not suggesting that the University should ban Facebook – I don’t want a lynching! I just want to gage what people think about the idea. So I’ve set up a Facebook group and invited my friends to discuss whether the site should be banned on University computers.

Many students admit they spend too much time on Facebook instead of doing their work:

Mark Fell, a Sheffield Hallam University student of Communication Studies admits he checks Facebook “far too much” while he’s supposed to be working. “Having a deterrence would be beneficial” he says.

“I agree. I spend far too much time checking Facebook when I desperately want to get on with work” says Kiri Allmand, another Communication Studies student.

Lucy Gresty, a student at University of Central Lancashire says the problem is the same there:

“Social networking has turned the library in to more of an internet cafe but I'm guilty of it too during periods where I reach a lull in my studies. I would personally be in favour of having ‘work only’ computers on designated floors of the library. But I suspect many students would balk at the control over their computer usage.”

Marcus Bowen, a Communication Studies student, points out that there is always the option to use the online booking system to ensure you get a PC when you arrive at the Learning Centre. He adds:

“I find Facebook a good way to have a two minute stop and then get back on with work. People who can't help themselves from checking it every 30 seconds need to have some self discipline and show some restraint.”

Facebook can be a valuable communication tool. Ollie Burt is a Communication Studies course representative who, quite appropriately, wrote on the group’s wall while in the Learning Centre at midnight. He says that Web 2 applications are as useful as email for the organisation of society events and helping each other with assignments. He also notes that not everyone owns their own computer:

“Using Facebook at Uni is often their only opportunity to catch up with friends from home and even other countries.”

Before hearing these viewpoints I thought that banning Facebook at Uni might be beneficial. But I think Marcus is right, we can avoid such measures by showing some restraint and using computer resources appropriately. Book a computer if you can, or try one of the many other campus-wide computer rooms to ease congestion in the Learning Centres.

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