Thing #3: Social Networking

Define:

Social Networking sites offer one of the most popular activities on the Internet. They are online communities and meeting places where you can interact with friends, relatives and other contacts with common interests. A study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project released in 2007, found that 55% of all teenagers use social networking sites. Social networks are one of the main ways that young adults communicate with each other and they are becoming popular with adults, too.

Oh, look! We have another video "in plain English" from commoncraft!
It's a great overview of Social Networking. Take a few minutes to watch it. It will help you understand the value of social networks.



Discover:

The following are some of the most well-known social networking websites.

MySpace: One of the most familiar and popular of these sites. Millions of teens and twentysomethings start out here, and users can customize the look and content of their own page. Bands, authors and libraries use it as a marketing tool as well.
Facebook: Originally designed for college students, it has a slightly older audience, and features a cleaner look. You cannot see any profiles on Facebook unless you have an account.
LinkedIn: This is geared toward the work environment for posting resumes, building career contacts, or getting professional advice. You can also connect with college alums here.
Eons: Social networking and activity sharing geared toward ages 50+.

There is an extensive list of social networking sites here, including sites based on interests such as music, movies, sports, and gaming.

Do:

Let's get social with Facebook!
(If you already have a Facebook page, join a different social network or help your colleagues set up their Facebook accounts)
1. Visit Facebook and "Sign Up" using your Playtime 2.0 email account. Don't forget to write down your password.
If you are concerned about privacy, you can use a fictional name and other information when you set up your account or, after you set up your account, you can activate several different privacy settings. Do this in the Settings link at the top-right of your page, next to your name.
Optionally, after your account is set up:
2. Upload a photo to your profile (it doesn't have to be your picture, it could be an animal, a design or a logo) and fill in some of the "about me" features; join the Roselle Public Library District network. Give your profile a little personality and be as creative as you’d like.
3. Explore a little more. Search for someone you know: a friend, a co-worker, a former classmate, a famous author, a celebrity or a politician. Add them to your friends list.

After you have joined Facebook, take a look at some of our personal Facebook pages:
Lynn Dennis | Lisa Poignant | Daryl Rogers | Pam Delaney | Beth Dover. (each of these links was used with permission)

The Library also has a couple of Facebook fanpages:
The Library Page | The Teen Scene Page

Now, let's write your "Thing #3: Social Networks" blog post
Browse to the "Playtime" blog you created in Thing #1 (it should be listed in the Participants' Blogs on the right) and create a new post.
Use "Thing #3: Social Networks" as the title of your blog post.
In the post, write about:
- What features do you like or dislike about Facebook (or the site you joined)?
- What do you think makes social networks so popular?
- Did you learn or do anything that surprised you?
- Did you identify ways that we might be able to implement features or components of social networking in the Library?
Responses may be factual or emotional in nature – but be as complete as possible.

You're all finished with Thing #3!
You should be so proud of yourself!
You've learned about social networks.
You joined a network, and you took some time to form an opinion about the value of social networking.
Good for you!

Optional BONUS CHALLENGE:
Did you know that the Library has it's own social network? Members of the Roselle Public Library Network include staff, patrons and supporters of the Library and some people that just wanted to look around and see what we are doing?
You can look around, too. Browse the Main Page of the network, then join us!

More optional additional information:
Social networks have gotten a lot of bad press when it comes to safety issues especially related to children and teens. If you are concerned about this issue, you should read the discussion, MySpace and Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA)
Online safety has become a priority for schools and libraries. The Illinois Library Association has devoted a section of their website to Internet safety resources including an excellent "Tool Kit" for libarians for working with teens & social networking in libraries.

Next week in Thing #4, we'll learn about sharing photos on the Internet using Flickr and other sites.