WEB2.0 FOR DEVELOPMENT

Article Introduction

Web 2.0 refers to free or low-cost interactive web-based service that help people share information and collaborate online more easily than with earlier tools. It emphasizes the possibility for many people to share and collaborate, not just the “webmasters” or people with advanced technical skills.

Article Content

Web 2.0 is primarily a social, rather than a technological evolution. It enables people to more effectively network, collaborate and exchange knowledge. It can be used for content creation (also known as user generated content), connecting with people (also known as social networking), collaboration and many other forms of people to people interaction. These tools are often called “social media” because they go beyond content, to our connection to that content and to each other. They can be used for development. In fact, Web 2.0 refers to the set of tools that make it easier for people to interact and publish on the world wide web. We are still faced with challenges in that many people do not have access to the Internet yet. However, we can find ways to bridge between those who are online and offline.

'Social media makes it easy for us to work across four broad areas:

connecting with other people via social networks who are distributed far and wide;

collaborating and doing things with other people;

creating and sharing content; and

finding, using, organizing and reusing content.

social media are useful tools for information that should be shared publicly, but are not good for sharing private or sensitive materials.they allow for Social networking -a practice of individuals connecting and communicating around a common interest using online tools and social networking sites.

social networking sites are allow for create of profiles that tell others about us and finding people with common interests or characteristics.Examples include: Facebook, Hi5Networks, Myspace and LinkedIn. Social networking sites were initially attractive to younger groups, but now they are attracting people of all ages.

web enabled mobile phones can also be used for social networking

The value here is that content made available on the internet becomes available as a global public good, not just a private thing stuck on someone’s hard drive on their computer.

With all this content available, there needs to be ways to easily find, organize and even re-use this content in creative ways. Social media helps us do this!key strategies for working with content using social media.searching, finding and filtering content, tagging content, rating and commenting on content and reusing or remixing content They include: Most social networking sites allow you to integrate photos, video and audio.

A social networking site enables users to create public profiles within a Web site and form relationships with other users who access their profile information.

Most services offer different ways to interact with others such as chat rooms, message boards, blogs, video, file sharing, email messages etc.

Different social networking services offer different features and cater to different audiences. Some sites are:

preferred in a specific geographic location; oriented to youth; business or marketplaces; specifically oriented towards professional networks; and dedicated to networking for social development.

Using social networking sites can present many strategic advantages for your group or organization, but can also pose new challenges in terms of privacy and security.

A social networking site enables users to create public profiles within a Web site and form relationships with other users who access their profile information.

Most services offer different ways to interact with others such as chat rooms, message boards, blogs, video, file sharing, email messages etc.

Different social networking services offer different features and cater to different audiences. Some sites are:

preferred in a specific geographic location; oriented to youth; business or marketplaces; specifically oriented towards professional networks; and dedicated to networking for social development.

Article Conclusion

Using social networking sites can present many strategic advantages for your group or organization, but can also pose new challenges in terms of privacy and security.