Imc651 Critical Analysis (Fendi 2010477674) 1

FACULTY OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Bachelor of Information Science (Hons)

Information Systems Management

EVALUATION OF INFORMATION SERVICES

(IMC651)

ASSIGNMENT:

ARTICLE REVIEWS

Sociability and Social Interaction On Social Networking Websites

by

Andrew Keenan and Ali Shiri

Prepared By:

NOOR MOHD EFFENDI BIN MOHD RASHID

Group : NIMBF10X

Prepared for:

NORSHILA SHAIFUDDIN

May 2015

EVALUATION OF INFORMATION SERVICES (IMC651) CRITICAL ANALYSIS

10

ABSTRACT

This paper is focused to research paper which explore sociality by discusses multiple

type of social interaction and how this social interaction encourages their users to

communicate and interact. The main objective of discussions is about types of social

networking application (Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter) including their issues

and characteristic features through observations and user experiences.

Keywords: Article review, social networking, definition, Facebook, MySpace, network,

sociability, Twitter, Linkedln, interaction


10

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In the new era of technology, the internet has led to the creation of new

communication media called social interaction in social networks. According to

Dictionary.com, a social network is the development of social and professional

relationships; sharing information and services among people with similar interests.

Basically, it relates to the use of the website or other technology to communicate with

others and share information, and other resources.

Social websites such as are Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn and etc. but for

this review, we just focused on four important type of social websites which offer a

variety of features to facilitate interaction on the internet. Users can share their status

at wall, private message (PM), photos, songs, videos and many standards of

expressions.

The number of social websites has also grown exponentially, and offering each

different focuses, designs and features for their users. These social websites want we

join their community and get new experience with exploration their social web

specifically to analyzing how social websites encourage sociability between users.

This analysis will focus on a four major social networking websites (Facebook,

MySpace, Twitter and LinkedIn) and explore their features that encourage sociability.

Therefore, this is article to review their articles regarding to main topic social

interaction websites and discuss what point of views the author want to deliver to the

audience based on their research paper "Sociability and Social Interaction on Social

Networking Websites by Andrew Keenan and Ali Shiri".


10

2.0 AUTHORS BACKGROUND

All the authors have a different background such but from the same country. Andrew

Keenan, Professor at School of Library and Information Studies and Humanities

Computing Program, University of Alberta, Canada. Ali Shiri is a Professor at School

of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta, Canada. Their article about

type of social websites (Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter) including their

issues and characteristic features through observations and user experiences.

3.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

This study aimed to determine the ability to interact with others via the social

networking site with the characteristics of the existing design standards or

technologies to promote sociability. Before, users interact with letters and telegrams.

Social network analysis (SNA), examines how the structure of a network affects users

within the network. Many websites that encourage social interaction through profile-

based user accounts include Facebook and MySpace.

Previously users interact very limited and subject to the use of the social networking

site built. This is because the interaction sites have features and functions that vary

depending on the needs of the users who use it. But now, the technology has with

other users. In addition, the blog created by the user reviews also allow developed to

allow interaction sites online dating profiles and encourage interaction readers to

respond to the topic with the author and other readers in the future.

4.0 OBJECTIVES

The main objectives this article reviews the features of social networking and also to

explore and identify what the main idea that has been suggested by the authors

through their research studies which is include with their assumption, contribution,

solution and literature reviews. In addition, it also to find the similarities and difference

social networks through different methods and also to examine what is the strongest

and weakness of the articles regarding to main topic.


10

5.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

The social web and social networking are often used as synonyms, but the two

concepts have decidedly separate meanings. The social web refers specifically to

websites and web technologies, while social networking is an existing body of theory

relating to human interaction. Analysis of the social web to examine people focused

websites and their strategies to encourage sociability. Currently, analyzing sociability

on the people focused social websites is a new trend.

A social network is a social structure comprised of types of interdependency between

nodes. The configuration of individual nodes into a larger web of interdependency

beginning in rudimentary stages with Emile Durkheim and Ferdinand Tonnies. While

traditional social science research focuses on the individual actors, SNA emphasizes

the relationships between actors within the network. Each community will have its

own culture, values and norms that develop based on the needs of its users.

6.0 METHODOLOGY

Form this reviews, four main social websites (Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and

Twitter) were examined from a user study perspective. After thoroughly participating

on the websites, a series of observations were recorded from each experience. These

experiences were then compared to understand the different approaches of each

website. Evaluation of websites based on experiences and literature about this

website. This research is exploratory study, so the data gathering process consisted

of exploring the features of each website.


10

7.0 FINDINGS

For this article is discussed about the features of the social networking to the world

community and stated that the presence of social networking sites has made life

comfortable and enjoyable. The authors focused on four examples of social

networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and MySpace by

explained with details about all the features and aspects that available on those social

networking sites. From this exploratory study, the authors has found Facebook and

MySpace, as the largest social websites, receive the most of good coverage. LinkedIn

and Twitter represent an application of social websites, focusing on professional

networks and micro-blogging (quick updates), respectively. These serve as points of

comparison between the social web giants Facebook and MySpace.

Sociability on Facebook is an extension of sociability in the public and user personal

information (or profile page) is accessible by people we have added as friends.

Facebook encourages sociability by creating a comfortable, private and familiar social

environment. Facebook restructured as the popular social web by strongly

encouraging users to use their proper name different with social web, MySpace. But,

Facebook has restricted profile access area and it is perhaps Facebooks most

distinguishing feature. Facebook also encourages sociability through its recent

redesign includes a tabbed window interface to separate categories of users

information, like photos, videos, events etc.

Facebook has also integrated an instant messenger chat client into the web redesign.

This makes Facebook an all-encompassing social web environment. Facebook

encourages users to focus their computer mediated social interactions in a singular

web environment. Facebook encourages sociability by representing real world

social connections in a virtual space and an all-encompassing social web destination

through networks a safe, private web environment.

MySpace also encourages sociability with representing a users identity in a public

web environment. The emphasis in MySpace is providing a public virtual space for

user public identity accessible to anyone. Sociability on MySpace is same with the

Facebook is by real world and virtual connections. MySpace also allows users


10

outside of their network to view users profile pages, although with limited access. All

information on the profile page, which normally includes whatever information user

enter when creating user profile is viewable and searchable. Searching power allows

web users to quickly locate someone on MySpace. By having publicly accessible

profiles, MySpace users are highly visible, and searchable through popular search

engines. Sometime has a misleading profile and this is public accessibility feature of

MySpace.

MySpace does allow users to submit any amount of content they feel deserves public

recognition. Privacy settings are offered around uploaded media (photos and video).

Users may also set their profile to private, restricting profile to view by friends with

granted profile access. MySpace users very vulnerable to unwanted groups having

access to their information, and this social web is not safe and no privacy in

accessible. One of MySpace attraction is users allowed to edit the HTML of their

profiles and choose their own domain names, MySpace users can create highly

personal web spaces, unique from other users. We can concludes, MySpace is the

public space of the internet. Poorly managed privacy settings or personal discretion

are hazardous on MySpace.

Differentiate with LinkedIn which encourages sociability through professional

networking. As a business oriented social networking site, LinkedIn focuses on

encouraging professional relationships. All services on the website function solely to

foster professional relationships. While this is decidedly useful for its users, LinkedIn

an increasing of highly focused social websites. Privacy in the network operates in a

unique way. This website uses gated access approach where users must get

permission from the user to view their profile page. LinkedIn also features a pay

version of the site. The pay version promises to facilitate business relationships and

new jobs more effectively. At LinkedIn, sociability is also facilitated through payment.

From this articles review, the author also has found Twitter encourages sociability

through simplicity. Twitter is a service for friends, family and co-workers to

communicate and stay connected quickly. This social website focus on exclusively on


10

quick 140 characters or less updates. Twitter is decidedly simple, which makes

interacting with the interface tremendously easy and intuitive for users familiar with

social networking websites. Like LinkedIn, Twitter is a niche focused website, but

instead of focusing on a niche community and technology. Twitter has streamlined

their technological approach by focusing specifically on SMS-length updates,

essentially creating web-broadcast micro-blogging. Before becoming friends with

another Twitter user and subscribing their feed, user must get their permission. From

a privacy perspective, Twitter has variable privacy options. Users are able to protect

their Twitter updates by altering their privacy settings, but the default account displays

Twitter updates publicly. Twitter updates are capped at 140 characters is that SMS

messages are also capped at 140 characters. Twitter is quick, direct and multi-modal.

Twitter is the fastest growing social network in the world (Snyder, 2008).

8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

From this review, exploratory study is an initial overview of sociability on social

websites. The authors, state the future research possibilities for sociability online are

numerous. One possible avenue for further studies in sociability is user studies. User

studies can document which social features are most frequently used or considered to

facilitate sociability based on user behavior. Finally, researchers will try developing a

theoretical social application and testing its effectiveness in encouraging sociability

amongst a test group of users. This data could be used to develop new social

applications.

9.0 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The result of the study showed that most of user use social web for socializing their

activities than for academic purposes. In the emergent social web, interaction and

content has become an immersive experience. Facebooks recent addition of an in-

browser instant messenger client allows users to chat instantly with any friends

online. This is both an interactive feature and a content feature, encouraging users to

socialize through both the technology of the system and the content of the

conversation. Immersive social features like in-browser instant messaging are

transforming the social web into an all-encompassing web based social interaction.


10

10.0 LIMITATION OF STUDY

No limitations study because a comparison of different models of sociability does not

yet exist. This study focuses specifically on what makes social websites social. This

social websites were examined from a user study perspective. After thoroughly

participating on the websites, a series of observations were recorded from each

experience. These experiences were then compared to understand the different

approaches of each website.


10

11.0 CONCLUSION

These websites offer users a variety of options for interaction including media sharing,

blogging, public discussions, events and a host of other features. Facebook and My

Space have a large user base to facilitate this multitude of features, and also allow

users to develop their own applications within the meta-social environment. The major

difference between Facebook and My Space is privacy vs publicity. Their focus is on

the visibility of their user base. Smaller social websites encourage sociability by

offering specific types of sociability. While most users flock to either My Space or

Facebook when joining a social web community, Twitter has created the intriguing

space of micro-blogging by focusing on a specific technology. From an interactive

perspective, sociability on social websites is largely determined by the design of the

website. Perspective, Twitters design quickly articulates the purpose of the site quick

updates. From a content perspective, sociability on social websites is also largely

determined by user content. Facebooks attempts to create social desktop have

manifested as complex, information rich user profiles. Immersive social features like in-

browser instant messaging are transforming the social web into an all-encompassing

web based social interaction. This exploratory study is an initial overview of sociability

on social websites. As a Conclusion, the social networking can give a lot advantages

to the user if they used for positive reason and not vice versa. In the emergent

social web, interaction and content has become an immersive experience. This is

examples an interactive feature and a content feature, encouraging users to

socialize through both the technology of the system and the content of the

conversation. Immersive social features like in-browser instant messaging are

transforming the social web into an all- encompassing web based social interaction.

It can be consider as basic natural life because its all depends on us on how we

handle something for own good or bad.


11

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Keenan, A., & Ali Shiri (2009). Sociability and social interaction on social networking

websites. Library Review, Vol.58(6), 438-450.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00242530910969794

Social Networking. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved October 23, 2014, from

Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/social networking

Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking Sites. (2014, Oct). eBizMBa .Retrieved

October 123, 2014 from http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social-networking-websites


12

APPENDICES

Imc651 Critical Analysis (Fendi 2010477674) 1

Documents

Transcript of Imc651 Critical Analysis (Fendi 2010477674) 1