It was funny after reading the Chapter Eighteen in Turban about Social Network I checked my emails and noticed an invitation from an old school friend to join WAYN (Where are you now?) and here I am writing my blog on blogger.com. Before reading this chapter I had no idea that these things were associated with Web 2.0, I had just assumed that these things like YouTube and FaceBook were just the next trend on the internet.
It is obvious that the big boys like Microsoft and Google believe that these social networking sties are going to continue to be a continuing trend and money spinner. I did a little research on the net and discovered that Microsoft purchased 1.6 percent share of FaceBook in November last year for $240 million and that FaceBook is worth approximately $15 billion and most of that revenue is generated from advertising. Apparently the Microsoft purchase was the largest Web 2.0 investment in 2007 (Kidman 2008)
I personally, don’t belong to any social network, mainly because most of these sites are blocked at work and according to Kidman's article an increasing number of businesses are blocking FaceBook and other social network sties. My mother thinks that these things are particularly antisocial and the next generation will lose the art of conversation…not to mention what texting will do to our spelling ability!
I hadn’t really had any experience with the next generation social software tool or Web 2.0 before I studying via distance education, especially this subject. Since then I have really discovered the benefit of these software types. Before I had never really used or experienced a chat rooms, blog, wikki or bulletin boards. It is really good to be able to speak to you peers and lecturers in real time and makes you feel a little less isolated when you are studying. One of the major benefits I perceive of Web 2.0 is the dissolving of distance in a country as large as Australia with many people living in regional and isolated areas.
References
Kidman, A (2008) Facebook: The Google of social networks? Retrieved 28 May 2008 from http://www.zdnet.com.au/insight/software/soa/Facebook-The-Google-of-social-networks-/0,139023769,339288381,00.htm
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2 comments:
Hi Paul,
I really liked your Blog on Web 2.0. I had a similar experience as you this semester utilising all a lot more Web 2.0 features than I would have normally. I really think that this subject has made my approach a little more open and willingness to give these applications a go. I signed up to Facebook (which I was against from the moment I heard about it) sign up annonymously to get used to its features and can I tell you it is actually quite fun. There is so many interactivities that you can do and more importantly find out about your friends and family. I made contact with a few of my old work mates and relatives overseas. They all made comments like "ah the last one to fall" in signning up to Facebook. However, I enjoyed it still the same. Don't know whether I will still ultilise it to its capacity, however I now have ideas of the concepts in the ways that more businesses are using it to interact with such a captive audience. From you blog I might check out Where are they now website to see the differences.
Ellisa
ellisa - i think i'm going to take the plunge and also join facebook....even after one of my wife's friend told me that is what all the kids are doing now.....
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