From photos and videos to minifeeds and your high school-age kid sister, Facebook.com continues to increase in features and users to the popular Web site.
The newest expansion of the social networking site, announced last week and slated to begin in March, encourages users to submit videos about their personal life for a contest. The winning videos will become the primary content of a new television series called "Facebook Diaries."
While some Facebook users welcome the idea of the contest and subsequent TV series, others see it as another step away from the initial focus of the Web site.
"Now it's taking a course not just about networking," said Ramya Naraharisetti, an interdisciplinary studies in social science sophomore.
"It's becoming an entertainment site.
"I shouldn't be on right now.It makes you stay on it longer than you should," she admitted, while logged in to Facebook on Tuesday afternoon at the Main Library.
Others feel more optimistic about the Web site's evolution and recently announced video contest.
"People are uncomfortable with change," civil engineering senior Jerry Wang said.
Wang said he compared the new contest to other additions such as news feed, "My Events" and "My Notes."
"It will probably be something I don't appreciate at first but will later enjoy; that's how it's gone for me on Facebook," he said.
Speaking of the personal video uploads set to appear next month, Wang said. "Some people are going to be creative with their own life and some aren't. It may be interesting."
To bring this video diary program to users, Facebook is partnering with Ziddio.com, a user-generated video site launched by Comcast Interactive Media.
After users upload their personal videos, the clips have the opportunity to be shown on Facebook, Ziddio and Comcast's ON DEMAND service.
Representatives from the three companies could not be reached for comment.
The contest-winning videos will air on "Facebook Diaries," a TV series to be produced by Oscar-nominated, Emmy award-winning TV producer R.J. Cutler. Cutler is best known for producing such TV shows as "American High" and "30 Days."
Some MSU students still need to be convinced of the show's worth.
"I highly doubt I would watch that," zoology senior Ryan Pokorzynski said. "Facebook consumes enough time."
Economics sophomore Yakov Kochubievsky also expressed doubt.
"I don't know — I wouldn't want to watch it," he said.
Some students don't plan on contributing to the contest, but may look at the video diaries of others.
"I don't think I'll be uploading stuff personally, but I'd look at the stuff other people are putting up," Tim Russell, a political science and pre-law junior, said. "If there's not a lot of restriction, there could be some interesting stuff."
Russell, who has been using Facebook for the last three years, believes the site has improved a great deal since its creation.
"I like how they offer privacy options," Russell said.
In light of Facebook's privacy settings, many MSU students still use the site with caution.
"Everybody knows what you're doing all the time," prenursing sophomore Haley Bunyan said. "Being aware of that is important.
"You don't need to put your whole life on Facebook."
