With the increase in the implementation of social networking in business it has become more important for corporations to utilize effective advertising.
In the article "Word Of Mouse" it is highlighted that more social networking websites such as Facebook and Myspace are looking into what users post and giving that information to advertisers to adjust their ads to target users. I find it skeptical that these websites are giving all the information that are on our pages to these advertisers. Although it is possible to change your privacy settings to make that not happen, I believe that your facebook should be private by default and instead have the option to give information away. On the other side it is beneficial to those companies because they have the capabilty to improve on things that we may not like
In 10 Harsh Truths About Corporate Blogging it is outlined how important is it for companies to take information that is given to them by websites like Facebook and improve. Facebook gives businesses the ability to improve on what users don't like. As much as I don't like facebook giving my information away, it is useful to know it can be going to something that can help me out in the long run.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Internet Makes Us Stupid...?
I believe the people who believe the Internet is making us stupid, are actually the people who are making everyone else stupid.
Namely Nobel Laureate Dorris Lessing. In the article "Nobel Laureate Says The Internet Makes Us Dumb, We Say: Meh" She argues that people who use the computer are becoming dumb. I believe she refuses to accept new technology that has proven to help people as a means of communicating information. The internet has given access to information that was not available without the network of the Internet.
In the article "The Digital Emporer Has No Clothes" Andrew Keen argues that with the creation of web 2.0 people are also becoming dumb as any person has the ability to post information which shuts out professionals. Keen believes that since web 2.0 has opened up the internet to everyone that they are inherently less reliable. I believe that web 2.0 has altered the way news is shaped, users post information and other users can act as fact checkers at a faster rate than traditional news sources.
The Internet has strengthened our ability to gain knowledge rather than weaken it. Lessing and Keen have not fully adjusted to the benefits that the Internet offers, instead they stick to a traditionalist approach which will keep them jaded from the real benefits.
Namely Nobel Laureate Dorris Lessing. In the article "Nobel Laureate Says The Internet Makes Us Dumb, We Say: Meh" She argues that people who use the computer are becoming dumb. I believe she refuses to accept new technology that has proven to help people as a means of communicating information. The internet has given access to information that was not available without the network of the Internet.
In the article "The Digital Emporer Has No Clothes" Andrew Keen argues that with the creation of web 2.0 people are also becoming dumb as any person has the ability to post information which shuts out professionals. Keen believes that since web 2.0 has opened up the internet to everyone that they are inherently less reliable. I believe that web 2.0 has altered the way news is shaped, users post information and other users can act as fact checkers at a faster rate than traditional news sources.
The Internet has strengthened our ability to gain knowledge rather than weaken it. Lessing and Keen have not fully adjusted to the benefits that the Internet offers, instead they stick to a traditionalist approach which will keep them jaded from the real benefits.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Crowdsurfing for Crowdsourcing
This week I read two articles that related to Crowdsourcing, the video by Jeff Howe on Crowdsourcing and the Wired Article "Is Crowdsourcing Evil? The Design Community Weighs In"
Both articles review the impact of crowdsourcing has had on businesses. It seems to me that for busnisses, crowdsourcings benefits outweigh any costs that can occur. Although people may argue that designers get shortchanged for their efforts. Crowdsourcing, however opens up ideas through an open source interactive systems which encourage more people to participation in the hopes for greater ideas.
Companies such as Threadless have heavily incorporated crowdsourcing into their business model. The t-shirt company has united designers, thus propelling Threadless to become the third largest T-shirt maker in the United States.
If Crowdsourcing encourages better and more creative ideas that promote better results than how can businesses not incorporate it into their models. Do you see any disadvantages to crowdsourcing for businesses?
Both articles review the impact of crowdsourcing has had on businesses. It seems to me that for busnisses, crowdsourcings benefits outweigh any costs that can occur. Although people may argue that designers get shortchanged for their efforts. Crowdsourcing, however opens up ideas through an open source interactive systems which encourage more people to participation in the hopes for greater ideas.
Companies such as Threadless have heavily incorporated crowdsourcing into their business model. The t-shirt company has united designers, thus propelling Threadless to become the third largest T-shirt maker in the United States.
If Crowdsourcing encourages better and more creative ideas that promote better results than how can businesses not incorporate it into their models. Do you see any disadvantages to crowdsourcing for businesses?
Monday, January 18, 2010
Social Capital, Six Degrees, and SNA
For this week I have read Clive Thompson on Real-World Social Networks vs. Facebook 'Friends' and Six Degrees of Lois Weisberg. These two interesting articles about social networking and how one individual can essentially run everything without holding a true position of power.
In Clive Thompson's article he notes that the person who holds the most power within a business may not be the most important one. How can that be though? If a manager isn't the most vital person to a company then who is? Reality Mining, a new field in tracking social networking development shows that the most vital person to a company is a random guy.
The random guy is the person that all the co-workers are familiar with, having built relationships based on face-to-face interactions. Information can be spread at a higher rate as people are allowed to operate using non-verbal gestures. Managers however, don't always have the time to get to know employees to the same extent as that random guy.
It makes sense to me that its not the managers who are the most vital, if you are a low-level employee and you need help, chances are you are going to go to that random guy who knows everyone and knows how to do the job. You're not going to go straight to the manager and risk getting your head chewed off for not knowing how to do your job.
In the article The Six Degrees of Lois Weisberg, it shows the importance of someone who is connected to multiple worlds. Weisberg is an easily identifiable figure among many social networks ranging from actors to "the flea-market aficionados." I found it interesting while reading this article how connected Weisberg is to so many people, she has the capability to reach people from all walks of life.
When relating these two articles together it is interesting to note that Weisberg is her own social network. Although she has held many upper-level positions in companies she is not the top person consistently yet always proves to be vital in connecting people together. I felt these two articles complimented each other perfectly. Ideas like reality mining and six degrees of separation can predict what we will be doing with our time and who we will spend it with. It will be interesting to see how businesses incorporate these ideas to motivate employees. Is it possible for more people to become like Lois Weisberg? Is Lois Weisberg type dying out as people move further away from face-to-face interaction?
In Clive Thompson's article he notes that the person who holds the most power within a business may not be the most important one. How can that be though? If a manager isn't the most vital person to a company then who is? Reality Mining, a new field in tracking social networking development shows that the most vital person to a company is a random guy.
The random guy is the person that all the co-workers are familiar with, having built relationships based on face-to-face interactions. Information can be spread at a higher rate as people are allowed to operate using non-verbal gestures. Managers however, don't always have the time to get to know employees to the same extent as that random guy.
It makes sense to me that its not the managers who are the most vital, if you are a low-level employee and you need help, chances are you are going to go to that random guy who knows everyone and knows how to do the job. You're not going to go straight to the manager and risk getting your head chewed off for not knowing how to do your job.
In the article The Six Degrees of Lois Weisberg, it shows the importance of someone who is connected to multiple worlds. Weisberg is an easily identifiable figure among many social networks ranging from actors to "the flea-market aficionados." I found it interesting while reading this article how connected Weisberg is to so many people, she has the capability to reach people from all walks of life.
When relating these two articles together it is interesting to note that Weisberg is her own social network. Although she has held many upper-level positions in companies she is not the top person consistently yet always proves to be vital in connecting people together. I felt these two articles complimented each other perfectly. Ideas like reality mining and six degrees of separation can predict what we will be doing with our time and who we will spend it with. It will be interesting to see how businesses incorporate these ideas to motivate employees. Is it possible for more people to become like Lois Weisberg? Is Lois Weisberg type dying out as people move further away from face-to-face interaction?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
1.
My name is Dan Alt, I am a student at American University. I will be writing in this blog for ITEC-335: Social Networking and Business. In order to ensure the integrity of myself and this blog I will follow the academic integrity code which states that on my honor, all posts on this blog are my own.
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