WEIRD, WONDERFUL OR WORK RELATED?

Social Software

NNYLNLibrary Assistants ConferenceOct. 23, 2008

Definitions

What is social networking? Ambiguous, evolving, HUGE.

Online communities (usually web-based) where individuals can share common interests, activities and ideas, get connected, meet new people, and generally communicate.

Web 2.0: web based interconnectivity and interactivityLibrary 2.0: library services integrated with Web 2.0Tagging, Tag clouds, Folksonomies (subject headings?)RSS feeds (really simple syndication)Mash-up (mixed content is recombined)WYSIWYG (sort of easy web editor)Phishing (identity theft technique)

Early Forms of Social Networking

Telephone, Conference callsEmail, Email discussion lists, Email referenceChat roomsBBS (bulletin board systems)UsenetTupperware parties? (well maybe not)

Who are the Social Network Users?

Millions: Young and OldChildren & adolescents: Games, texting, artworkCollege students: Stay connected with family &

friendsProfessionals: Share information, ideas,

opportunitiesFamily members: Online calendars, photo-sharingParents: Support groups, advice, event planningRetirees: Voice opinions, advice, shop

Teen Content Creators

39% of online teens share their own artistic creations online, such as artwork, photos, stories, or videos, up from 33% in 2004.

33% create or work on webpages or blogs for others, including those for groups they belong to, friends, or school assignments, basically unchanged from 2004 (32%).

28% have created their own online journal or blog, up from 19% in 2004.

27% maintain their own personal webpage, up from 22% in 2004.

26% remix content they find online into their own creations, up from 19% in 2004.

Amanda Lenhart, Mary Madden, Alexandra Rankin Macgill, and Aaron Smith, Pew Internet & American Life Project December 19, 2007

Connect with People

Facebook: Academic social siteMySpace: General public social siteNing: Create your own subject specific social

sitesCafemom: Advice and support for momsOrkut: General public social site by GoogleLinkedin: Professional’s networkDating Services: eHarmony, Match.com,

JDate, Christian Mingle, ManHunt

Collaborate and Connect

Wikis (Hawaiian word for “fast”)Blogs (web log)Twitter (microblog)Instant Messenger (chat)FriendFeed (aggregator for blogs, video, etc.)

Share Your Inspirations

Google Docs (spreadsheets and word processing)

Zoho Docs (spreadsheets and word processing)Slideshare (power point shodel.ic.ious ; spurl ; furl (bookmark & URL

management)43Things (share your goals and progress)DeviantArt ; Artbreak (share art works)Creative Commons (works in the public domain)

Retail Therapy

Amazon (reviews and tagging and ratings)eBay CraigslistStylehiveiliketotallyloveitShoplette

Photo & Video Sharing

Flickr (Picture Australia, Library of Congress)PicasaPicnik/WebshotsShutterflyYouTubeGoogle Video

Virtual World Meets Real World

Couch Surfing (visit another city or country)Rideshare (find a ride)Geocaching (locate treasures) 12986Flash mob (performance art happening)Webkinz (buy a stuffed animal then create a

virtual world for it)

Flash Mob Pillow Fight

Books and Reading

LibraryThingLibraryThing for LibrariesGoodReadsaNobiiShelfariBooksConnectBooks iRead

Play Games

WebkinzSecond LifeWorld of Warcraft

News

DiggRedditPropellerFarkSlashdoti am bored : focus on weird and silly stuffhugg : environmental issuesNowPublic : citizen journalismtruemors : social rumors

Issues: The Good and the Bad

Trust (recognize intentional misrepresentation) (inventing a cool avatar is acceptable and common) (phishing and soliciting minors is illegal)

Privacy (managing your online identity) Be careful of what types of information you share Manage your profile settings

Identity theft (protect your credit and accounts)E-learning (educational opportunities)Information Literacy (effective use of technology)Digital Inequalities (literacy, age, race, gender

income bracket and educational backgrounds)Copyright, Ownership and Fair Use

Best Practices : USE COMMON SENSE!

Read the privacy policies and check your profile settings Who can view your content (friends, family anyone?) Who owns your content (you or the network owners?) Who can download and use your content? Is your content searchable by web crawlers and search engines?

Be cautious about what you post: Your name and phone number? Your calendar and work schedule? Your address or work location? Pictures of yourself doing fun (but possibly indiscreet) things? Online chatter with friends about highly personal things? Photos of family, friends or children?

Assume anyone can or will see your content (e.g. employers, family members, clergy, pedophiles, stalkers, criminals)

Don’t forget it is the internet…a virtual main street.

Questions?

Marianne HebertSUNY Potsdamhebertm@potsdam.edu

http://hebertm3308.googlepages.com/nnylnsocialnetworkingsites