Social networking tools and Web 2.0 technologies
About this document
This document provides an overview of a selection of common Social
Networking Tools, and some increasingly popular technologies typically
associated with Web 2.0 sites. It describes an overview of their features and
functionality, and highlights potentially useful features, as well as areas of
risk/concern.
By their very nature, all social networking tools carry some risk as they create
online communities in which members can interact with each other.
The tools considered are:
 Twitter
 Facebook / Bebo
 MySpace
 Habbo
 Second Life
 Instant Messaging tools
 Forums
 Blogs
 Chat rooms
The tools
Twitter
Overview
Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its
users to send and read other users' updates, known as tweets. Tweets are
text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length which are displayed on the
user's profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them
(known as followers). Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of
friends or allow anybody to access them. Users can send and receive tweets
via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications.
The service is free to use over the Internet.
Features/Functionality
Twitter allows you to create a profile and then for people to sign up to your
news feed.
One-to-many communication.
Can receive replies from people following.
Your followers can “re-tweet” your posts, allowing further dissemination.
It could be used, for example, to broadcast events that are coming up in the
York area, or alternatively as a soap-box for commentary.
Risk
Users can see who else is signed up to the same user, and if their profile is
“public”, to access their news feeds.
Basic personal (name, location, website, biography) information about users
is visible if they have entered it, and haven’t changed their privacy settings.
‘Tweets’ are very disposable and transitory and can easily be missed.
Link
http://twitter.com/
Facebook / Bebo
Overview
Facebook is a free-access social networking website. Users can join networks
organised by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with
other people. People can also add friends and send them messages, and
update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. There are
numerous additional modules which can be added to provide a wide range of
additional functionality.
Bebo is similar to other social networking sites, such as Facebook. Each
profile must include two specific modules, a comment section where other
users can leave a message, and a list of the user's friends. Users can select
from many more modules to add. By default, when an account is created the
profile is private, which limits access to friends specifically added. The user
may select the "Public Profile" option so as the profile will still be visible to
any other members of a school they may have joined.
Features/Functionality
Facebook provides a number of features. It is essentially a profile page
allowing your “friends” to see your comments, information and
pictures/photographs you upload.
In addition, groups can be created which allow users to join and see events
and information relevant to them.
Themed Facebook groups could be created allowing communication between
members. E.g., “Expectant Fathers”. These wouldn’t be moderated.
There is a simple Live Chat feature which can be used to talk to other
Facebook users.
It is a many-to-many model.
Risk:
Users are responsible for securing their profiles against giving lots of personal
information out to unknown users.
Users can message each other, and interact outside of the group.
Media can be uploaded/downloaded.
Link
http://www.facebook.com/
MySpace
Overview
MySpace is a social networking website with an interactive, user-submitted
network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos
for teenagers and adults internationally. MySpace is seen to be decreasing in
popularity with many users moving to Facebook, which offers better design
and more functionality, but is still popular with musicians and bands.
Features
The MySpace wall is a convenient place to put event notices, and allow
authorised users to comment on events.
Risk
A basic MySpace profile doesn’t really offer much more than an online
presence—would only be useful if other associated partners had MySpace
sites.
MySpace has a slightly ‘seedy’ reputation, possibly due to the prevalence of
bands’ sites.
Link
http://www.myspace.com/
Second Life
Overview
Second Life is a virtual world developed by Linden Lab that launched on June
23, 2003 and is accessible via the Internet. A free client program called the
Second Life Viewer enables its users, called Residents, to interact with each
other through avatars. Residents can explore, meet other residents, socialize,
participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade virtual
property and services with one another, or travel throughout the world, which
residents refer to as the grid. Second Life caters for users aged over eighteen,
while its sister site Teen Second Life is reserved to users aged between
thirteen and seventeen.
Features
A virtual department could be set up, with information available in Second
Life, allowing “virtual visits”.
If the administrators were online, virtual consultations and meetings can also
be held.
Risk
Second life is accessed through a program which must be installed, rather
than a website.
A large time commitment is required.
Unmoderated areas.
Link
http://secondlife.com/?v=1
Habbo
Overview
Habbo (also known as Habbo Hotel) is a social networking website aimed at
teenagers.
Many activities and features are available on Habbo's website, that do not
appear on the Hotel itself. The community section of the website features
regularly updated news and events regarding the service. Recommended chat
rooms, popular group pages and user pages and user interest tags are also
accessible from the website. The hotel requires the shockwave plugin, the
website does not.
‘User pages’ is a feature allowing users to customise their own web page
displayed on the website, colloquially named Habbo Home. The web page can
be accessed from inside the hotel, and allow for user interaction with the
home page of the user, as well as interaction within the Hotel. The web pages
are displayed with the user's character appearance and motto. Users can
customise their web page with a selection of widgets, stickers and
backgrounds. Various widgets, stickers and backgrounds can be purchased
with credits to add to the small default range of features. There are also
opportunities to win more free features and often branded
stickers/backgrounds are offered as part of a marketing campaign.
Features/Functionality
Users can interact in the hotel facility.
Users can also have a simple web page, similar to Facebook / Bebo.
It may be an option to have a minimal presence on Habbo, such as a room,
which directs visitors to more suitable online environments?
Risk
The environment is unmoderated.
Link
http://www.habbo.co.uk/
Instant messaging (MSN, AOL, Skype, etc)
Overview
Instant messaging technologies create the possibility of real-time text-based
communication between two or more participants over the internet or some
form of internal network/intranet. It is important to understand that what
separates chat and instant messaging from technologies such as e-mail is the
perceived synchronicity of the communication by the user—chat happens in
real-time. Some systems allow the sending of messages to people not
currently logged on (offline messages), thus removing much of the difference
between Instant Messaging and e-mail.
IM allows effective and efficient communication, featuring immediate receipt
of acknowledgment or reply. In certain cases Instant Messaging involves
additional features, which make it even more popular, i.e. to see the other
party, e.g. by using web-cams, or to talk directly for free over the Internet.
It is possible to save a conversation for later reference. Instant messages are
typically logged in a local message history which closes the gap to the
persistent nature of e-mails and facilitates quick exchange of information like
URLs or document snippets (which can be unwieldy when communicated via
telephone).
Features/Functionality
Instant messaging can be used in a similar way to a phone service—a unique
identity could be created which allows users to contact the service directly.
Due to the nature of the text communication, it is quite easy to have several
simultaneous conversations.
Risk
Can be time consuming if used as a 1-to-1 service.
Probably wouldn’t required voice / video functionality.
Forums
Overview
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site.
Features/Functionality
A forum allows a user to post a message/query, and other users can then add
their comments below. Generally, the entry page is a list of “discussion topics
or queries” in date order, and a threaded discussion (i.e. the replies are
grouped by which message they are in reply to) is visible once the topic has
been chosen.
Risk
Posts can be moderated, and protected by requiring a sign-in, although this
would increase administration.
Normally to post you will need to have registered online, but there is no
additional security / authorisation.
Link
http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/
Sample forum—not really topic related!
Blogs
Overview
A blog (a contraction of the term weblog) is a type of website, usually maintained by
an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other
material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reversechronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add
content to a blog.
Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as
more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other
blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave
comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are
primarily textual, although some focus on art (artlog), photographs (photoblog),
sketches (sketchblog), videos (vlog), music (MP3 blog), audio (podcasting), which are
part of a wider network of social media. Micro-blogging is another type of blogging,
one which consists of blogs with very short posts. As of December 2007, blog search
engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs. With the advent of video
blogging, the word blog has taken on an even looser meaning — that of any bit of
media wherein the subject expresses his opinion or simply talks about something.
Features
A blog is ideal to publish rapidly changing content.
Events, corporate communications, and personal commentaries are most often
published in blog form.
Users can be allowed to comment on blog posts, and this can be moderated (i.e.
approved by administrator before it becomes visible)
Blogs are thought to help search engine optimisation (SEO) as it is an indication of a
maintained site.
Risk
A very low risk option as the blog can be very tightly secured to prevent unauthorised
feedback and comments.
It is useful to regularly update blog posts, preferable at least once a week, and so there
is a commitment with this.
Links
Some sample blogs:
http://mashable.com/ (links to popular blogs)
http://www.artinliverpool.com/blog/
http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/democracy-andelections/cabinet/leaders-blog.htm
Chat Rooms
Overview
A live forum where many users can join (either by invitation, registration, or
anonymously) and messages are visible to all the users in the chat.
Features
A chat room could provide a platform for lively debate and discussion
between community members.
Risk
Unmoderated chat rooms have a poor reputation for safety.
Link
A sample chat room
http://www.bibic.org.uk/newsite/general/legal/legalchat.htm