In this project, I will be examining how online social networks affect identity formation in their members. I am interested in both how people present themselves online and how that virtual persona/world affects their identity formation (for example, the phenomenom of taking a photograph simply because you want it to be your facebook picture). Online relationships/interactions and virtual popularity are also key issues for my project. I will predominantly be focusing on the Website Facebook.com, but for research, I will be looking at pieces that examine social networks, online privacy, virtual/computer mediated relationships, online popularity, and representations of self on the Internet/"virtual personae." Some helpful Websites for information on Facebook.com and its background: This first article discusses Facebook's critical success factors and why many of its features appeal to its users. (http://chimprawk.blogspot.com/2006/05/facebooks-critical-success-factors.html). This next blog is entitled "Facebook: The Complete Biography," and it is just that. It provides a good overview of the history of Facebook and its corporate culture (http://mashable.com/2006/08/25/facebook-profile/). And finally, the source of it all: http://www.facebook.com. Check out the blog and the privacy information without signing in.