Society In The Post IT Era

Social computing refers to the use of “Social software”

Enables people to connect or collaborate through computer-mediated communication and to form online communities.

Online Identities

Blogs

Social Networking Websites

Social Media Sharing

Social Network Analysis

Provides basis for online social interaction

“An online identity is a social identity that network users establish in online communities.”

Creation of anonymity using pseudo-names (usernames) e.g. Alieo13

(Wikipedia)

More adaptable than real-life identity◦ Fabricate details e.g.

Age, gender, race

Anonymity reduces discrimination◦Lack of details = no basis for discrimination

Creates a safe barrier for insecure users◦People with disabilities, low self-esteem,

disfigurements

Anonymity can be abused

◦Paedophilia

◦Fraud

Social skills diminish

Multiplayer games

E-Commerce sites◦ Amazon, E-Bay

Social networks◦ Bebo, MySpace

Blogs

Blog noun An Internet website containing an eclectic and frequently updated assortment of items of interest to its author. 1999-. [Shortening of weblog.]

The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang

Blogs are an open, evolving e-mediums “Danah Boyd”

LITA Conference Oct2005

Each society has reacted differently depending on its social and legal structure

Quick look at :

◦ Iran

◦ USA

Blogging Paradise & Enemy of the net

Reasons of popularity

Social changes

Government & Blogging

Alternative/Me Media (?)

Cooperate blogging : Sun’s KMT

Section 230 : who is held responsible

Delta Airlines Case : celebrity !

Building a social network of people for different purposes

Digital public places

Content generation & sharing

Transformation to public e-markets

Jan 2005 , Mr M Brich 25 Million users Features : profile , picture , blog ,quiz,

music Business Model : Google & Web 2.0 Ads Target population : teenagers (10-20 yrs) Social effects : Ireland

Alternative : young population Features : groups ,e-magazine , directories Business model : subscription with levels of

access Concerns : no legal frame work Will it last ?

Owned by News Corporation Local versions Features : profile for companies Target population : 20-30 yrs Business model : e-advertising arm of

empire Concerns : commercialisation Security

Web-Based Video Sharing

Use of platform independent video streaming technologies e.g. Adobe Flash

popular video sharing website

Acquired by for $1.65bn

YouTube prohibits publishing of copyright material

Difficult to detect copyright infringement

Implemented restrictions e.g. max video length, anti-piracy screening software

NBC and CBS jump on the ‘band-wagon’

‘Black and white’ situation with regards to illegal material e.g. child pornography

‘Gray’ area for material deemed offensive e.g. nudity, violence etc.

Raises political/moral debate (Ms. Malkin)

Constant censorship, against ideology of ‘free media’

Sociology in the 21st Century, collecting data from social network websites

Use of semantic web technologies to determine social behavioural patterns

MIT Media Lab, conducting research on ‘Reality Mining’ project

Individuals reveal more information on social networking sites

Advertisers/Marketers gain better understanding from customer behavioural patterns

NSA using social network analysis technologies for homeland security

Personal privacy issues – sensitive personal information revealed on social network sites

NSA using ‘automated intelligence profiling’ based on unreliable information

Analysing masses of social network information – ‘clouds’ overall picture

History of Social Networking

Social Networks 1.0◦ OneList, ICQ, Evite

Social Networks 2.0◦ Friendster, Orkut, LinkedIn

Social Networks 2.5◦ Bebo, MySpace, YouTube

What does Social Networks 3.0 have in store?

Object Centred Sociality

◦ Users connected via a common objecte.g. Job, University, Hobby

◦ Simulates real-life social interaction People meet others through something they

have in common, not by randomly approaching each other

Network Integration

Problem Users may have identities on different Social Networks Each identity was created from scratch

Solution Allow user to import existing identity Use single global identity with different views