Learnig goals for coure INF 506.

I hope to be exposed to a broader range of social networking sites, and their workings. I am also interested in thinking about the potential of these tools for improving the social life and capacities of individuals, communities and of course institutions such as Libraries. How will Libraries utilize these tools to access and aid their clients while improving organizational cohesion and efficiency? What challenges may these applications present.

Simon McCloys online social networking experience.

During the time I have been online I have used a number of social networking sites.

• I have a Facebook account which I would log onto roughly five times a week. I find the site useful for keeping in touch with geographically dispersed friends and former colleagues. I rarely use it for seeking out new friends, although I do use it to join Facebook, causes and groups that I have an interested in. I like to keep an open profile despite some privacy concerns. I used to have a Bebo account.
• I do have a twitter account but I do not use it to micro blog. Although I view other interesting twitter feeds.
  
• On Youtube I subscribe to a number of channels of interest. Sometimes comments are posted on particularly interesting or irritating videos. I regularly watched debates, various discussions, tutorials and even movies on this site.
  
• I find that I can also be distracted in my spare time by a small number of topic discussion boards. Posting anonymously on controversial topics can be fun. It can also be a good way to learn about other people and places.
• I have also used Flickr, Delicious and now a Blog for this and previous course work at CSU. Reading other peoples blogs can also be very informative, Some of them have specialist knowledge of particular issues of interest. They also provide links to other blogs resources, sites and media.
  
• Some newspapers like the UK Guardian also host comment is free sections that allow the new media to engage with the old.
• I found Second life to be a distraction.
• Massive multiplayer gaming must also be mentioned. Communities are usually formed and sustained within many games although my level of level of gaming does not really permit this for me.
  

What is social networking?

Social networking can be viewed as a series of activities that are tasked with building or maintaining social networks or meaningful bonds between individuals,groups or institutions. These activities have existing in all communities starting with kin groups. However with the advent of information communications technologies and the World Wide Web and lately social networking applications these activities have taken on new dimensions and meanings. Indeed the term social networking has almost now become synonymous with Web 2 applications such as Facebook, Twitter, or social media sharing sites such as Youtube and Myspace.