Web 2.0: Social Software for Teens

Instructor:

Matt Gullettmgullett@gmail.com

An Infopeople Workshop

Fall-Winter 2007

Infopeople …

• Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project supported by the California State Library. It

provides a wide variety of training to California libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered

around the state and are open registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

• For a complete list of workshops, and for other information about the project, go to the

Infopeople website at infopeople.org.

Welcome and Introductions …

• Please introduce yourself:– Name– Library affiliation– Position– What kind of car would you be? Why?

Tell me more …

• Do you use the Search Institute’s Teen Developmental Assets in your work?

• How is the computer environment in your library?

• Do you work with teens and computers on a regular basis?

• How would you define/describe Web 2.0?• How long have you been working with teens?

• Do you have/use teen volunteers &/or a teen advisory board?

What is Social Software?

Software tools & websites that

support social interaction and

communication among user

populations.

Social Software’s Evolution

• Bush’s “Memex” (1940’s)• Englebart’s augmentation (1960)• Groupware (1970-80’s)• CSCW (1990)• Social Constructivism and Open Source

Software Movement• O’Reilley’s Web 2.0 Summit (2000’s)

Primary Social Networking Sites

MySpace, Facebook, LiveJournal & Xanga Blogger or Wordpress YouTube Flickr LibraryThing Second Life, IMVU, Yahoo Avatar

Keys to Recognizing Social Software

When creating an account does one also set up a personal profile?

Are users then connected through their profile information?

Teens’ Social Software Use …

Benefits:•Social Development•Writing•Designing•New literacy

Challenges:•Safety•Mindless use•Bullying & gangs•Sharing too much

Does Social Software Support Teen Developmental Assets?

• Internal Assets (Review Handout)– Commitment to Learning

• (24 & 25)

– Social Competencies• (32-35)

– Positive Identity• (37-40)

Why Do Teens Do This?

Think of your teenage years:

• A Friday night drive on Main Street

• Soda shop meet ups

• Weekend shopping mall hang outs

• It’s about posturing and figuring out who one is and can be.

Computers are …Social Outlets for Teens

• That is why groups congregate around the computers.

• It is also why they are noisy.

• Remember that much of their behavior is positive.

• Set limits yet give them space to be themselves.

What are the Key Socialization Aspects?

PosturingPosturing- pictures, songs, musicians, - pictures, songs, musicians, groups, friendsgroups, friends

Profile matchingProfile matching- find like - find like minded/interested friendsminded/interested friends

CommunicationCommunication- messaging, blog posts, - messaging, blog posts, pictures, etc.pictures, etc.

Interact with them using the various tools in their spaces

Encourage responsible use

How Do We Understand & Help?

Exercise #1: LibraryThing

Any New Thoughts?

Social Networking? LibraryThing? What surprised you

about LibraryThing? What new feature did

you find?

How Do You Encourage Responsible Use?

• Model it through ones personal or institutional site

• Teach and link to appropriate resources

• Talk about social influence techniques that are used online

What is Social Influence?

• The foundation for making responsible choices online is ensuring that you are, indeed, the one who is making the choice.

• Researchers who study techniques that are effective in influencing attitudes and behavior have put forth three basic categories of social influence:

* Conformity: changing an attitude or behavior to match anexisting social norm

* Compliance: responding to a direct request from one person to another

* Obedience: obeying a direct order from someone to perform an action.

Social Influence Techniques

Social Influence Techniques Used Online

(www.netfamilynews.org/willard0605.html)

"Virtually all of the Internet risks and concerns are grounded in the

negative impact of social influence."

Social Influence Techniques

Rule of Reciprocity

Examples:

MySpace Friending

Second Life Gifts

Commitment & Consistency Leads to:

– Trustworthiness– Convenience

Social Influence Techniques

Examples: A MySpace Friend is always online and waiting for you.

Social Proof: Group Think & Viral Marketing

Social Influence Techniques

Examples: MySpace Groups & Associations

Liking:• Physical

attractiveness• Similarity• Praise• Increase familiarity• Association

Social Influence Techniques

Examples: MySpace photo posting, Second Life avatar creation

Authority

Social Influence Techniques

Examples: MySpace associations with celebrities

Scarcity

Social Influence Techniques

Examples: withholding access to MySpace, etc.

What to Discuss and Keep in Mind When Guiding Use

• Talk about the social influence techniques.• Discuss the idea that what is posted on

one’s MySpace, Facebook, etc. is for the whole world to see. One can be held liable for what they post on their page.

• Bullying online is the same if not worse than such activity in person.

MySpace, Facebook, Livejournal & Xanga

• MySpace - music/entertainment dominated and then more of a space for minorities and lower income class

• Facebook - .edu dominated and somewhat of a class disparity

• Livejournal - mixed audience more focused on the journaling aspect

• Xanga - younger 12-15 year old audience

MySpace.com

My MySpace Profile

My MySpace Site

How to Connect with Teens?

What Are Essential MySpace Settings?

Exercise #2: Set Up a MySpace Page

Any New Thoughts?

How can a library connect with teens through MySpace?

What will appeal to teens through a library oriented MySpace page?

What won’t appeal to teens via a library MySpace page?

Why Facebook?

What Does a Facebook Site Do?

What Does FacebookDo Differently?

How Is a Facebook Profile Set Up?

What Is Different with LiveJournal?

Why Xanga? What Sets It Apart?

Why YouTube, Flickr, Blogger & Wordpress?

• Focused on a particular medium

• Allows for specific types of communication: – YouTube (video)– Flickr (photos)– Blogger & Wordpress (primarily writing)

What is YouTube?

YouTube is an online video streaming service that allows anyone to view and

share videos that have been uploaded by our members.

The YouTube Story?

The History of Youtubewww.youtube.com/watch?v=x2NQiVcdZRY

How Do You Set Up a YouTube Account?

Why Have a YouTube Account?

• Post video or your events or programs.

• Link to teens videos or videos that they like.

• Purchase a FlipVideo Camera and do the YouTube Thing.

What Is Flickr All About?

What Makes Flickr a Social Networking Site?

How Do Teens Use Flickr?

Exercise #4: Create Flickr Account

• Create a flickr account and practice posting pictures to your account.

Why Just Straight Blogs?

Blogger

What Is a Blog?

How to Get Started?

Is It Hard to Design a Blog?

Just Do It …

What Is Different with a WordPress Blog?

What Are Some Examples of Teen Usage?

Are There Teen-focused Blogs?

Exercise #5: Create a Blog Account

• Begin to set up a Blog with either Blogger or Wordpress and write an introductory post.

Why Is Blogging an Empowering Experience?

• It is a self learning process.

• One can publish their thoughts to the whole world.

• Through tagging and linking one can connect to some thoughtful people and ideas.

• It is virtually free to do.

Any New Thoughts?

Blogging? Flickr? YouTube?

What Is So Important About Virtual Worlds?

What Is Gaming Culture?

• Interactive play and learning within a rich 3D environment.

• High level of information complexity.

• Strong sense of learning, and an “I can do it” type of attitude to get to the next level, etc.

Why Is Gaming Culture Important to Virtual Worlds?

• 3D play navigation

• 3D information presentation

• Complex information processing environments

It’s About the 3D Information Environment & the Avatar

What Is an Avatar?

• The word "avatar" is a Sanskrit word, meaning "incarnation" and usually refers to the deliberate descent of an immortal or divine being into the mortal realm for a special purpose.

• It is the representation, personality & screen name, etc. connected with him/herself, whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games, a two-dimensional icon used in virtual communities.

What Are Yahoo Avatars?

How Can One UseYahoo Avatars?

What Is Gizmoz?

What is Meez.com?

Exercise #6: Create an Avatar

Any New Thoughts?

Avatars? Virtual Environments? 3D Information

Presentation?

What is Second Life? Teen Second Life?

Eye4You Alliance Teen Island

Why Libraries in Second Life?

U2 in Second Life …Why Is a Rock Band in SL?

Virtual Worlds & Avatars

• What are they? • Why are they significant for libraries & teens?

• What can be done to interact with teens?

What is IMVU?

What Are Some of the Other Virtual Worlds Available?

• Multiverse

• Active Worlds

• There

• Gaia

Multiverse

Active Worlds

There

Gaia

Activity #1: Second Life/Virtual World Experiences in Your Library Discuss the benefits of offering virtual

world/avatar programs &/or experiences in your library.

What might be the challenges in offering such programs?

Are there technical/software issues in doing/using it on the library’s computers?

What do we do with this stuff?

• What connects most with teens? Why?

• What is doable at your library? As a program? or A tool?

• What are problems/barriers to the virtual world and avatar tools/ environments?

Do you have any thoughts, ideas on the day to share?

• Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

• Dreams? Wish I could???

• What is one thing that you are going to go back to your library to implement?

Please Complete Your Evaluation

Red Wings Spacetime 1

infopeople.org/workshop/eval