Accessibility
ProsFree and easy to sign up to with limited steps to access group Easy to access once signed in as a member and can be logged in via Facebook account |
ConsCan be too easy to access and especially when used on mobile which can be socially unacceptable when in the presence of others Have to log in (if cookies have not been set) |
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Understanding
ProsMany users already have Facebook so easier to join groups and posting is easy to understand Users tend to frequent Forums to search for specific content and sometimes social interaction |
ConsUsers are confused between a Facebook page (typically large and public) and a Facebook group (typically small and private) not all users are versed in posting good and concise content to be fully understood and require prompting for further information |
NotificationsProsEmail and screen alerts with new posts and responses Email alerts on new content and specific responses to your posts |
ConsFiltered comments which are automatically based on perceived relevance to the user Notifications can sometimes be overwhelming when topic is popular |
User Intent
ProsIdeal for specific interest groups Community based platform with strong links to specific interests ConsCan be confusing in naviagtion between the numerous interest groups and pages Not intended for short term social interaction |
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Privacy & SecurityProsPrivacy options have open, closed or secret options for information publicly displayed Private data is not sold or analysed and each visit is anonymous via analytics |
ConsData is analysed by Facebook and used for advertising into their feeds. Accounts and profiles can easily be cloned and scamming is prevalent Spam posts can appear but generally they are instantly removed by a team of moderators |
Mobile use
ProsMobile support and enhanced graphical display make it more appealing to users Better overall user interface and layout when viewed on PC or tablet ConsDifficult to enter lengthy textual content with phone virtual keypad Not as functional on mobile so not as portable unless using third party software |
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ContentProsEasy to post and share images and information to a specific target audience All posts are shared with other like-minded people and tends to be more relevant and engaging content |
ConsGroup content competes against other content in the user's facebook stream which is often more relevant less graphical content and more textual based posts |
Accessibility
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Understanding
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Notifications
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User Intent
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Privacy & Security
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Content
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Currency
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Images
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Sharing
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Posting
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Moderation
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Searchability
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Why forums offer much more than Facebook groupsAlthough Facebook Groups offer 'on the fly' communication with other like-minded individuals, in the long-term there is no real depth of knowledge to be sourced. Say for example, you post up a question and you patiently await some answers and they more posts come along. Your post will drop down the Facebook page and be forgotten over a short time span. Searching is also more difficult to achieve, whereas the answer may be there, but you won't be able to find it. In Forums, although the communication is slower as most users won't respond immediately, your question will be answered and the solution to your problem can easily be searched not matter how long the time frame. |
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