Investigating Facebook: Private Pages
Cover Page of Gamma Psi Kappa Alpha Theta Facebook Page
A large part of college is who one meets and the experiences that one has, which requires getting involved in organizations. One way to get involved in college and specifically at Texas Christian University is Greek life. It provides a physical community as well as an online community of likeminded people to connect with and experience college with. Focusing on the online aspect of this, the Gamma Psi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta private Facebook page provides a strong and safe online community of resourceful and helpful information to all of its members. This information ranges from basic informative content about what is happening on campus to heartfelt posts and comments about the impact and love for the women in the chapter.
Facebook is a common platform to use when creating private groups. Private groups are meant to only include certain people so that the content is held within its chosen members and that it provides a safe place for people to express their thoughts. With this certain Facebook page, there are only two people who are allowed to accept members. This includes the Chapter President and the Chief Operating Officer, the two highest positions in Kappa Alpha Theta. Not just anyone is allowed to accept others, which protects the privacy of the group. A correct school email address is also required to enter when joining the group, narrowing down who is able to request to join. This page can be found by searching, “Kappa Alpha Theta” on Facebook, with the cover photo of the page (as seen above) as the identifier that it is the correct group.
Facebook is a common platform to use when creating private groups. Private groups are meant to only include certain people so that the content is held within its chosen members and that it provides a safe place for people to express their thoughts. With this certain Facebook page, there are only two people who are allowed to accept members. This includes the Chapter President and the Chief Operating Officer, the two highest positions in Kappa Alpha Theta. Not just anyone is allowed to accept others, which protects the privacy of the group. A correct school email address is also required to enter when joining the group, narrowing down who is able to request to join. This page can be found by searching, “Kappa Alpha Theta” on Facebook, with the cover photo of the page (as seen above) as the identifier that it is the correct group.
History/Background
According to the Kappa Alpha Theta national website, the Gamma Psi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta was installed on April 15, 1955 along with eight other sororities. The Dean of Women in 1955 said on page 11 in the Kappa Alpha Theta chapter report, “It is a genuine pleasure to extend greetings to Kappa Alpha Theta from Texas Christian University, September 11, 1954, the day that our Board of Trustees decided to invite national sororities and fraternities to our campus, was a most significant one in TCU’s history.” The chapter also received, “strong support from both Dallas and Fort Worth alumnae.” Needless to say, the TCU chapter has been running for 63 strong years and continues to hold up the high standards that it did in 1955. This strong connection carries into the online community that Kappa Alpha Theta holds. Each member is loved and supported by her sisters. Chapter President, Sam Rohloff, said “Theta gives each member care and support. Our Facebook group provides a safe space for that. Any member is free to put announcements, recommendations, or suggestions in the group to get the word out. It is the quickest way to get information out to the chapter, which is why the group is used often.” Rohloff’s statements attest to the fact that this online community is frequently used and is a protected group to post anything in, backing up the groups’ purpose.
The group has a total number of 231 members, reflective of the total amount of women currently a part of the Gamma Psi chapter. This proves that each member has equal inclusivity and the online community does not discriminate anyone. As a member myself, I do not post very often. However I contribute to posts by commenting and reacting to posts.
The group has a total number of 231 members, reflective of the total amount of women currently a part of the Gamma Psi chapter. This proves that each member has equal inclusivity and the online community does not discriminate anyone. As a member myself, I do not post very often. However I contribute to posts by commenting and reacting to posts.
Current Activity
With as many as 5-7 posts a day, the activity on the page is high and is up to date. A typical post consists of a photo with a promotion (see post one) about an upcoming event that will get our members involved, like a pizza event that is a profit share. Many other posts ask for recommendations on academic and lifestyle related topics. Lastly, all remaining posts consist of simple information. For example, when and where the chapter meeting will be for that week and reminders for upcoming events that are sponsored by the chapter. Comments will appear on most of these posts, just a few minutes after the post is made, asking questions of clarification, words of encouragement, or just excitement. Examples are, “Incredible!!”, “Literally amazing!!”, and “You’re absolutely unbelievable I’m a huge fan!” These comments are examples of what you would see for a promotion post. Specifically referencing to post two, one of the members of the chapter members created a cookbook and the love and support for her poured out in the comments in these encouraging words. In other less exciting posts, where information is posted, questions are more common. For example, when a spreadsheet was posted to list your date for an event, someone asked, “Who are the other organizations the event is with?” On post three, members trust other members to recommend places in Fort Worth like hair salons. The post immediately got comments with three different places that other members recommend. All of these examples show how the members of the chapter are constantly involved and active on the Facebook page. Without interaction, members would be lost, confused, and out of date on important and necessary information.
Comparison- Facebook Vs. Instagram
Comparing the private group to the public Instagram is quite different when it comes to interactions. The TCU Kappa Alpha Theta (@tcutheta) Instagram is a public site that is open for anyone to view, therefore interactions and posts will be filtered to show the best side of our chapter. The Gamma Psi chapter, as well as other chapters, is constantly having to uphold a certain image to the public.. The Instagram posts the photos that put out this image of our chapter. Comments are nothing but encouraging and complimentary towards the photo, whereas the Facebook group has more of a wide range of comments including questions as well as encouragement. In addition, photos of members are rarely posted on the Facebook page, whereas the Instagram page is all photos of members and less about the information. Also, the Facebook page is utilized much more than the Instagram with multiple postings a day. There are significant differences in each of these platforms, making their uses completely different.
Seeing that these two online communities are drastically different in feeling and content, it supports that the Kappa Alpha Theta Facebook page is a more unique, tight knit, and informal group. It allows for the members to freely speak and more importantly, ask questions and make announcements.
Seeing that these two online communities are drastically different in feeling and content, it supports that the Kappa Alpha Theta Facebook page is a more unique, tight knit, and informal group. It allows for the members to freely speak and more importantly, ask questions and make announcements.
Greek Media
Jeffery Stafford, PhD, writes an article about communication and social media regarding Greek Organizations. Stafford writes, “As the newest form of communication being social media has become more integrated into our lives it is time they embrace it. It is up to these organizations to monitor and groom their social media image to one that represents them in a positive and correct light.” Stafford puts forth the idea that Greek chapters all around the country put together Facebook pages for their members, alumni and ‘fans.’ They can be used for multiple different things like promotion and connection for people who are in the chapter or not in the chapter.
The message of this article can be applied to the Gamma Psi chapter Facebook page. Even though this specific group is private, members continue to promote events and encourage other members to get out and support them. This group is a tight knit community where members are considered ‘sisters’ therefore a family and family supports one another.
The message of this article can be applied to the Gamma Psi chapter Facebook page. Even though this specific group is private, members continue to promote events and encourage other members to get out and support them. This group is a tight knit community where members are considered ‘sisters’ therefore a family and family supports one another.
Downfalls
Though there are many benefits of the private Facebook page, there are a few difficulties that exist within the page. Primarily, that it is not a public page. Many members promote non-chapter events, like a student government sponsored event or an academic lecture. Only the members of this group are able to view the post, causing the member to post again on their regular page. Another difficulty of this page is how many messages post in one day. Since the page is quite active, many posts appear and it is easy to fall behind on information that may need to be communicated immediately. Members must be on top of their game and always have their phone with them to check the group. However, the benefits outweigh the downfalls, making this page a positive and exciting group to be a part of.
Conclusion
The purpose of the Gamma Psi chapter Facebook page is to inform its selected members and constantly keep them updated on everything that is happening around them that could apply to or interest them. For the chapter to function properly and promptly, communication needs to happen easily and quickly. The inclusive Facebook group provides an online community for these necessities. It is constantly kept up to date by the officers and president, who post in the group the most. Being an observer and watching the online community interact gives a light that reflects back on these ideas. This group allows its members to communicate instantly. Within the Gammas Psi Chapter, there is no other platform that allows for this, creating a necessity utilize the instant communication that the group provides.
Online communities allow for people to communicate whenever, wherever, and with whomever they want to. Private Facebook groups only slightly limits these functions if someone is not in the group, but within the group, these functions are limitless. The Gamma Psi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta’s Facebook page provides a secure inclusive way to connect with all members and share relevant information to the selected online community.
Online communities allow for people to communicate whenever, wherever, and with whomever they want to. Private Facebook groups only slightly limits these functions if someone is not in the group, but within the group, these functions are limitless. The Gamma Psi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta’s Facebook page provides a secure inclusive way to connect with all members and share relevant information to the selected online community.
References
1. Interview with Chapter President, Sam Rholoff
2. Chapter Report of Gamma Psi Chapter- file:///Users/charlesrunge/Downloads/chapter_heritage_report_Gamma_Psi%20(1).pdf
3. Kappa Alpha Theta Nationals Website about Gamma Psi Chapter- https://www.kappaalphatheta.org/alumnae/aboutourchapters/findachapter/chapter_detail.cfm?chapterId=1190
4. TCU Theta Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/p/BhAO6zTnJXb/?hl=en&taken-by=tcutheta
5. Article on Greek organizations using Social Media- https://sites.ewu.edu/cmst496-stafford/2012/06/05/social-media-and-greek-organizations/
2. Chapter Report of Gamma Psi Chapter- file:///Users/charlesrunge/Downloads/chapter_heritage_report_Gamma_Psi%20(1).pdf
3. Kappa Alpha Theta Nationals Website about Gamma Psi Chapter- https://www.kappaalphatheta.org/alumnae/aboutourchapters/findachapter/chapter_detail.cfm?chapterId=1190
4. TCU Theta Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/p/BhAO6zTnJXb/?hl=en&taken-by=tcutheta
5. Article on Greek organizations using Social Media- https://sites.ewu.edu/cmst496-stafford/2012/06/05/social-media-and-greek-organizations/