Facebook is piloting a new space for college students called Facebook Campus. This dedicated section will appear on the Facebook app, making it easier for students to connect.
Facebook was originally built as a college-only social network, and the platform is now returning to its roots.
As students navigate college life, they can use Facebook Campus to connect with colleagues, join clubs, find study groups, and schedule meetups on campus. That said, the addition of a student-only section might make Facebook one of the most useful apps for college students.
Facebook Campus accounts are separate from regular Facebook accounts. To sign up, students simply need to enter their graduation year and EDU email address.
After that, students can choose what other information they want to disclose. Facebook Campus lets students add their hometown, class schedule, and major, but all of that information is optional. When the signup process is complete, students can start finding Groups and Events associated with their school.
Anything that’s posted on Facebook Campus stays on Campus, and isn’t posted on other areas of Facebook. It also isn’t shared with students from other colleges; only students that belong to a certain college can access the Campus space associated with that school.
Campus also comes with a college directory. This allows students to search for classmates by major, class, and year. And when students want to chat, they can feel free to make chatrooms for dorms, study groups, and clubs within Campus as well.
So far, Facebook Campus is only available at a select number of colleges in the US. Those schools include Brown University, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, and more. You can find the full list on this About Facebook blog post.
Many college students already turn to Facebook to chat with colleagues and form study groups, but it’s clear that Facebook wants to expand this audience. By creating a dedicated section for college students, more students may turn to Facebook to connect with classmates.
On the other hand, Facebook may take advantage of the extra information that students tend to divulge, which is why it’s always important to watch what you share online.