Web 2.0
Social network
On the other hand, to better illustrate how web 2.0 relates with social network, it is important to best define what social network is. A social network may be well perceived as a group of individuals who share a common set of interest and objectives. Therefore the backbone and success behind any social network largely depends upon the technology and motivation of its members as well as the underlying technology that provides its platform.
Hence to better address the challenges that come about with deployment of social network which in this case would be to keep the any social network alive, a reliable and sound information technology framework has to be put in place. This technology gap is well bridged by the introduction of web 2.0 technology.
So as to understand how exactly in what Web 2.0 meets the challenges of social networks we must keep in mind that web 2.0 was developed to support the combined use of multiple services and technologies. This and not mentioning the fact that web 2.0 is built to addresses the challenges of user interaction that were evident in the pre ‘social network’ internet era.
One of the major implementations of web 2.0 is founded on the introduction modern technologies notably AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript) and XML (Extensible Mark-up language) in developing internet technologies that not only improve on performance but also on user interactivity.
Why people’s social network are stronger and more functional under Web 2.0
Now that a better understanding of the underlying concept behind the working of social networks and web 2.0, we are better placed establishing why Web 2.0 makes a stronger and more functional social network.
First of all the most notable boost web 2.0 has on the modern social network has been the addressing of user interface challenges. Like earlier mentioned this has been majorly supported by the introduction of two core technologies in this case AJAX and REST. However other emerging contenders such as Adobe Flex and Flash have enabled the creation of rich browser-based user experience. For instance AJAX allows the asynchronous updating of web pages eliminating regular page reloading which proves to be slow and data intensive.
Key to addressing better interaction challenges, Web 2.0 and specifically AJAX has contributed greatly in the following user interaction areas: Type assistance provision has been enabled allowing users to type text under the suggestion of likely word by the system this tends to provides accuracy and speed in form filling procedures by limiting cases of typing errors. Secondly form assistance is now achievable where a user’s option alerts the system to pre-fill other related values based on a given input. This limits the workload that comes about with having to fill long forms. Also multiple page updates can be done on the same page simultaneously without the need for page refresh or reload. All these added to animation capabilities addressed by AJAX such as sliding panels than improves on the look and feel of websites as well as improving content display in image galleries.
Another key strengthening factor web 2.0 has over social network is the cost. This is because social networks created on web 2.0 has become cheaper and also easier to implement. This has led to many organizations adopting web 2.0 in creating social networks that addresses their challenges and agendas.
Considering the issue of functionality, it can be said that web 2.0 has changed and influenced the way people and interact, communicate and share information and opinions. This has made end users more like participants rather than simply ‘users’ though innovative channels such as podcasts, blogging, tagging, RSS feeds and social bookmarking. This is new options were not available in the pre web 2.0 internet era and as such users could not benefit.
Why they are not
Much of the positives contribution web 2.0 has on social networks goes without mentioning why the other side of the coin points otherwise.
First of all the notion that web 2.0 introduces new version of the World Wide Web has been considered highly unlikely. For instance AJAX has been perceived as not as a replacement of protocols such as HTTP but rather a additional abstract layer. Another emerging criticism on web 2.0 is that the present purportedly new ideas that web 2.0 implements new networked feature has been disapproved on the account of similar earlier existing concepts such as Amazon which has provided interactivity with its customers through consumer reviews and guide since 1995. It has also be mentioned that previous developments on the same in areas such as computer supported cooperative works(CSCW) and Computer-supported collaborative learning have been evident way before the introduction of Web 2.0.
Other strong criticism have considered web 2.0 as another emerging ‘bubble’. This has been viewed in comparison with the likes of the popular ‘Dot-com bubble’ that it is just an exciting concept that would soon be over once it proves economically unviable.
Socially web 2.0 as a concept in favor social networking has been pointed out as tool that has demeaned the true foundation and principles of positive social networks. It has been noted in recent sporadic cases and emergence of unregulated free speech that the platform has openly provided; many have misused this concept and has so led to lack of expertise in the endless ideas and amateurish content that is regularly depicted with the lack of responsibility and truth though web 2.0 supported social networks.
Another challenge that web 2.0 has failed to meet has been the issue of data security within social networks. There have been cases of data leakages as well as confidentiality loses because of the lack of centralized regulation and monitoring. This has made the use of web 2.0 in social networks more prone to carelessness in data handling.
Privacy of personal data in social networks has also been considered a downside in web 2.0. This can prove to be a menace in medical sectors as well as security agencies. Prone to this fact is developing worlds where lack of basic measures have not been put in place to curb this challenge.
Conclusion
As a point of conclusion it can be said the impact web 2.0 has over social networks as compared to the pre ‘social network era’ has provided significant adoption as well as challenges to the modern world.
In spite of all these web 2.0 technologies as a contributor to ‘social networks’, it still remains a potential as well as a challenge in modern day adoption. Though the main task falls on us to find out how web 2.0 has impacted as well as influenced the ‘social network’ bearing in mind that Web 2.0 is here to stay in our present society.
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