Is IT In You?

Throughout the past few weeks, I feel even I have lost touch with the purpose of these social networks. The point is to connect people through similar interests. This can be done in many ways and through many venues. Some of the ones we have looked at focus on a personal gain, whereas social networks for the social good aim to help others. That is a crucial difference that makes linkedin look selfish compared to something like Razoo.com.

It is important that these "social good" networks are not for everyone. Similar to volunteer work, some people refuse to devote their time and talents for others. It serves as a constant reminder to me that there is truly something for everyone on the internet.

I do think this is an important aspect to our culture. We need to be more responsible and accountable for our actions. Since we are spending more and more time on the computer than ever before, it has become the place to get news and spread news. It is where people can come together from all over the world to communicate about a particular topic. There is no limits or boundaries, just endless possibilities. It's up to us to take advantage of that.

3 For All

With a solid first post under my belt, I think I'm ready to tackle my second. After skimming some of the other articles, I found myself intrigued by, "A Practical Guide to Social Networking", by Rob Cross, Jeanne Liedtka, and Leigh Weiss. They discussed three types of social networks: customized response, modular response, and routine response. Each are designated for their respective industries.

I do believe it is important for a company to strategically choose a method that works best for them. In addition, each department within the company may take alternative routes to the same result but the types of social networks must be clear and known by everyone in the company. Though some communication methods may be informal, there needs to be a good amount of organization. These different types generate a game plan for an effective communication flow. I have to wonder if there are any other types of social networks.

Lastly, I feel that more connectivity is better. This article claims that is not always the case, however I believe in todays world with key terms like globalization, teams, and work groups that social networks and connectivity are the oil to a car--they make it run. The spread of knowledge, in my eyes, can only be a good thing.

http://sixdegrees.wikidot.com/local--files/reading-history/practicalguide.pdf