Brian Kelly UK Web Focus UKOLN University of Bath Bath

A centre of expertise in digital information management

www.ukoln.ac.uk

We're The Young Generation, And We've Got Something To Say!Talk at the “Inspiring the iGeneration Web 2.0, teenagers and libraries” conference

Brian KellyUK Web FocusUKOLNUniversity of BathBath

[email protected]

UKOLN is supported by:

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/conferences/igeneration-2007/http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/conferences/igeneration-2007/

This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 licence (but note caveat)

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Acceptable Use PolicyRecording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised

Acceptable Use PolicyRecording/broadcasting of this talk, taking photographs, discussing the content using email, instant messaging, blogs, SMS, etc. is permitted providing distractions to others is minimised


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Contents

• Introduction• Web 2.0 is

changing things!• What is Web 2.0?

User generated content Communications

• Facebook example• Facebook: the challenges

Concerns for the individual: privacy, etc. Organisational concerns: defamation, etc.

• Questions

Aims of this talk:• Give an overview of Web 2.0• Explore a popular social

networking service• Suggest how organisations

might respond to the opportunities & challenges

Aims of this talk:• Give an overview of Web 2.0• Explore a popular social

networking service• Suggest how organisations

might respond to the opportunities & challenges


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About Me

Brian Kelly:• UK Web Focus: a Web advisory post• Involved in Web since January 1993, when he

helped establish Web service at the University of Leeds (possibly first institutional site in UK HE)

• Actively promoted the Web in1993• Currently promoting use of Web 2.0: what it is;

how it can be used and deployment strategiesUKOLN:

• A national centre of expertise in digital information management

• Funded by JISC and MLA to support the higher and further education communities and the cultural heritage centre

Introduction


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Web 2.0 companies (with products to sell, marketing people, academics, even civil servants are suggesting that “Web 2.0 changes things!”

Are they right?

Will Web 2.0 herald an even more significant change than Web 1.0?

Web 2.0 companies (with products to sell, marketing people, academics, even civil servants are suggesting that “Web 2.0 changes things!”

Are they right?

Will Web 2.0 herald an even more significant change than Web 1.0?

Introduction


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Web2MemeMap, Tim O’Reilly, 2005

Characteristics Of Web 2.0

• Network as platform• Always beta• Clean URIs• Remix and mash-ups

Syndication (RSS)• Architecture of participation

Blogs & wikis Social networking Social tagging

(folksonomies)• Trust and openness

Characteristics Of Web 2.0

• Network as platform• Always beta• Clean URIs• Remix and mash-ups

Syndication (RSS)• Architecture of participation

Blogs & wikis Social networking Social tagging

(folksonomies)• Trust and openness

Web 2.0: What?

What Is Web 2.0?

Marketing term (derived from observing 'patterns') rather than technical standards - “an attitude not a technology”

Web

2.0

Web 2.0


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Web 2.0: Why?

Realisation of Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s dream:• Web was meant to be interactive & user-driven

Technical infrastructure now in place• But only now are the standards in place, use cases

tested and commercial infrastructure deployedUser acceptance:

• Users love it – look at popularity of SNsSaving scarce in-house resources:

• Institutions can now focus on relevant areas, rather than duplicating services already available

• Enhancing quality of what we do do• Developing digital citizenship• Addressing the gaps (e.g. information literacy, …)

Web

2.0

Web 2.0


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Blogs (1)

Library community has been an early adopter of blogs.

Several library commentators (in US, UK & elsewhere) use blogs to:

• Disseminate info on new tools, services, etc.

• Advise on issues• Promote discussion &

debate• …

Usi

ng

Web

2.0

http://philbradley.typepad.com/http://philbradley.typepad.com/

Web 2.0


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Usi

ng

Web

2.0 Blogs (2)

Increasing numbers of libraries are providing blog services for various purposes:

• Newsletter• Alerting• Informing• Listening• Engaging• …

http://teens.mosmanlibraryblogs.com/http://teens.mosmanlibraryblogs.com/

For further examples of uses of blogs in libraries see Kara Jones’s slides on Why Have A Blog? (available on Slideshare )

For further examples of uses of blogs in libraries see Kara Jones’s slides on Why Have A Blog? (available on Slideshare )

Web 2.0


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Communications

We said:• Content is king!

But maybe:• Communications is king!

Communications tool include:• Chat tools (MSN

Messenger)• Audio & video (including

MSN Messenger, Skype, …)• MS text messaging

Usi

ng

Web

2.0

Web 2.0


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Integration of ServicesWeb 2.0 applications can be used in isolationThey can also be integration into other services (e.g. widgets in blogs and Web sites)Facebook is (currently) the leading platform for integrating many Web 2.0 tools


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The Facebook platform provides access to (a) Skype (b) Twitter micro-blogging service (c) mini-questions

The Facebook Platform


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What is Facebook?Facebook:

• A social networking Web site

• Had the largest number of registered users among college-focused sites with over 30 million members worldwide

• Ranked between top 10–20 Web sites

• Seventh most visited site in the US

From Wikipedia

Facebook

Let’s now look at one very popular Web 2.0 application – the Facebook social networking service

Let’s now look at one very popular Web 2.0 application – the Facebook social networking service


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Note that I provide public information, but not personal details

Getting Started

When you register you can provide information about yourself:

• Personal details

• Contact details• Interests• …


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Your Profile Page

Here’s an example of a profile page:

• Your details• Access to default

applications • Access to applications

your addedFacebook could be used as a personalised portal to various applications


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Your Profile Page

Here’s an example of a profile page:

• Your details• Access to default

applications • Access to applications

your addedFacebook could be used as a personalised portal to various applications

And here’s how others may see your profileBoring isn’t it!


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It’s a Social Network (1)

The strength of Facebook is when it is used as a social network. Here people can see:

• My updates to my Facebook account

• Applications I’ve installed

• Groups I’ve joined

• Photos & videos I’ve uploaded

• Blogs posts I’ve written

• Messages I’ve sent & received

• …


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It’s a Social Network (2)

Here’s the page of a former colleague (now at Eduserv). This is valuable to me:

• Spot friends in common

• Keep informed of Andy’s professional interests (of interest to me)

• Keep informed of Andy’s discussions with others

• …


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Student Use (1)

Example of groups subscribed by a student:

• Student society

Facebook seems to be very popular for use withStudent union societies (nb is this a threat to similar services provided on Student Union Web site?)

Facebook seems to be very popular for use withStudent union societies (nb is this a threat to similar services provided on Student Union Web site?)


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Student Use (1)


• Student society

Notice how the issue of local versus global Facebook groups is being discussed. Would a local-only group act as a barrier to student alumni?

Notice how the issue of local versus global Facebook groups is being discussed. Would a local-only group act as a barrier to student alumni?


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Student Use (2)


• Student society• Social

Facebook is popular for various social activities – especially for keeping in touch over summer

Facebook is popular for various social activities – especially for keeping in touch over summer


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Student Use (2)


• Student society• Social

Note that Facebook provides access to videos and photos – a way of providing seamless access or a bandwidth hog?

Note that Facebook provides access to videos and photos – a way of providing seamless access or a bandwidth hog?


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The Opportunities

Facebook provides great opportunities for colleges and universities:

• It’s popular• It’s easy-to-use• No need for in-house development or to purchase

software• Useful for staff and post-graduate students too• We can easily integrate our resources into

Facebook (e.g. RSS feeds, blogs, etc.)• It can provide alternative access to our services

cf. MyNewport portal which took a day to port to Facebook


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What Others Are DoingMyNewport:

• VLE/portal used by staff & students (course material, news, blogs, forums, etc.)

• Facebook app allows students to access to MyLearning resources

• Allows students to create their own personal learning environment in a platform other than the University’s

Facebook targeted as it’s the fastest growing communityIf the users like idea but want to work in another environment then that is fine

See info on UK Web Focus blog& Michael Webb’s (IT Services director at Newport College) blog

See info on UK Web Focus blog& Michael Webb’s (IT Services director at Newport College) blog


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What’s The Downside?

Various concerns have been expressed about:• Privacy (is Facebook a private or public space?)• Is Facebook a space for students or for all?• Is Facebook a closed environment?• …

Various concerns have been expressed about:• Privacy (is Facebook a private or public space?)• Is Facebook a space for students or for all?• Is Facebook a closed environment?• …


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The Challenges – The User

Should people be concerned about the privacy implications of Facebook?

Here’s an example of a group set up on the University of Bath network

Should people be concerned about the privacy implications of Facebook?

Here’s an example of a group set up on the University of Bath network

“Definatly Bullard....found him strangly sexy....is that wrong!?”

Note that Newbridge Primacy has a Web site which has no photos of children – but they upload their own photos to Facebook


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Challenges: The Institution (1)

Facebook can provide challenges for the institution

IT Service departments, for example, are always liable to face criticism

These days as well as User Group meetings and online forums, users can create their own discussion groups


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How should the departments respond?

• Read the posts to gain feedback on areas in which improvements may be needed?

• Join in the discussions

• Ban such discussions / people who make inappropriate comments?

• Ignore the groups


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Note though:• Departments may find support being provided on the discussion groups

• There will always be criticism

Do our (fee-paying) students have a right to watch “crap on YouTube” What if this slows network down? How does the university engage in discussions on this topic with the students?

Do our (fee-paying) students have a right to watch “crap on YouTube” What if this slows network down? How does the university engage in discussions on this topic with the students?


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Other Issues

There are also challenges for individuals

What if this group I’ve joined isn’t about nos. of UK Facebook users, but a BNP support group?

A friend has joined a group which advocates violence!

Note that Facebook isn’t a local University service, so it can’t easily be banned. Is this were we need education (for staff as well as students)?

Note that Facebook isn’t a local University service, so it can’t easily be banned. Is this were we need education (for staff as well as students)?


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You Can Manage Your Privacy

You have control over the information others can see about you


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You Can Manage Your Privacy

You have control over the information others can see about you

But how many users change the default settings?

And what about what Facebook can do with your information? Note that Wikipedia provides useful information on Facebook’s terms and conditions

And what about what Facebook can do with your information? Note that Wikipedia provides useful information on Facebook’s terms and conditions


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Looking Back

What if Facebook had been around in the 1970s and 1980s?Photos of Gordon Brown, Tony Blair & David Cameron from their student (and schoolboy) days are easily foundBut what if they had been blogging about their exploits & views?What will the Daily Mail be publishing in 30 years time?


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Responding To The Challenges

How to respond to the challenges?

• Ban Facebook to protect the institution / the users

• Disciplinary measures

• Take students to court

• Guidelines (how to configure settings)

• Education• Information literacy• ..

BBC Video clipBBC Video clip

Register, 22 Mar 2007

University moves to hush Facebook criticismThe administration was provoked by a Facebook group called "James Knowles is a Twat".

University moves to hush Facebook criticismThe administration was provoked by a Facebook group called "James Knowles is a Twat".


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What Do My Friends Think?

A question I asked on Facebook: Facebook: (a) institutions need to engage with it as our students like it or (b) its their social space; let's leave it alone?

Responses from my Facebook friends, 1 Aug 2007

Responses from my Facebook friends, 1 Aug 2007


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Some ThoughtsFacebook:

• We can’t ignore it!So should we:

• Leave it for students to use as they see fit?• Allow departments to use as they see fit?• Make formal use of it?

In all scenarios how should we:• Address privacy concerns for students (and staff)?• Address the issue of whether the university should

respond to criticisms?• Protect the integrity of the institution? • Provide advice, training, etc. on best practices?• …

Many of these issues will be addressed at a one-day workshop on “Exploiting The Potential Of Blogs and Social Networks” to be held in Birmingham on 26 November 2007.

Many of these issues will be addressed at a one-day workshop on “Exploiting The Potential Of Blogs and Social Networks” to be held in Birmingham on 26 November 2007.


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Questions

Any questions?

Brian Kelly UK Web Focus UKOLN University of Bath Bath

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