social networking

So much to talk about! Some of the libraries we’ve looked at in our case studies have done great things with social software that I think add real value to library services. Among the projects that seem the most useful are:

Social Networking Online: The Hot Topics

As social networking sites are (arguably) the most well-known of the web 2.0 tools, we understandably had a wide spectrum of articles and topics this week. I tried to select a few articles that looked like they might touch on the most prevelant of concerns or issues about social networking online in order to be able to explore a wider variety and be able to think about the implications of a variety within a library environment.

Implications for relationships

I finally get a topic that I actually feel like I know the material for beforehand (in spite of my belief at the beginning of the term I had lots of Web 2.0 experience). :)

The debates for this week's readings were really interesting to me, not only because I'm a social networking site fanatic, but also because I generally consider myself a proponent of freedom of access and speech.

This topic is the one I have become the most familiar with, especially over the past few weeks working on the group Facebook project (which all of you should check out!). Personally, out of the networks discussed in this week's readings, I find Facebook to be the most interesting and also have the most options for incorporation into a library.

I could not help but chuckle a little at quite a few of the articles this week.  Some of them seem to be written from an adult/scientific perspective.  It calls to mind an image of a crazed scientist holding Facebook out at arm's length, disgusted, and carefully placing it under a microscope to have a closer look at it.  I can just imagine: "WOW!  Look at all of those young people gathering around Facebook!  I must observe them!"

Once again, this weeks content raises several advantages and disadvantages of online social networking.  The readings point out that online social networks such as facebook and myspace makes contact more available, is 'fun' and often disassociated from school (which is very appealing when sitting in a friday lecture, during summer or for resistant students).  They offer people to join groups of their interest, and at that, are limitless and inclusive.  Of course with the exposure of personal content comes the threat of predators, harrassment and violation of privacy.

I have used ICQ and MSN Messenger as ways to chat and keep in touch with perople.

I have registered for several online social networking sites since I was about 16. If I remember correctly, some include: Asian Avenue, Friendster, HiFive, MySpace, and Facebook. I started 'facebooking' when I graduated from university as I heard it was a good way to keep in touch with friends from school and find old friends.

The RSS aggregator and tagging is new to me and I'm looking forward to learning about it in the coming weeks.