Re: What is a social network?

Hi Christine, all,

this is an issue that I also see as being not clarified here: what services are 
in and which are out? We should not re-invent the wheel here. There is a 
definition of Social networking sites (SNS) by Danah Boyd [1] which I like and 
which we could consider using:

"We define social network sites as web-based services that allow individuals to
(1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system,
(2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and
(3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within 
the system.
The nature and nomenclature of these connections may vary from site to site."

On the other hand is this XG about the emerging Social Web, which is more than 
just SNSs.
To my understanding every site is "in" which has social features. To provide, 
access and share these features and their content is what I am interested in.
I think we need to clarify our visions of the emerging Social Web to improve the 
fundament of our work in this group.
Should we have a wiki page for this? For now, find my 2 cents here [2]. What is 
your visions?

Cheers,
Alex

[1] http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html
[2] http://socialconnect.info/trac/wiki/VisionVault

Christine Perey schrieb:
> I was asking myself, when populating the list of 30 popular community 
> services: What defines (for those of us in this W3C XG) a service 
> as being unequivocally on the list and why?
>  
> Do we all have the same definition of social networking? Judging from 
> the services on the first list on this wiki page [1], probably not.
>  
> I suggest that we take a stab at a W3C Social Web XG 'accepted' 
> definition of scope.
>  
> Playing the devils' advocate here:
>  
> One of the problems with a public/published W3C definition of "social 
> web" or "social networking" is that it may need to be examined regularly 
> and modified/updated. Where will the boundaries every end? 
>  
> Social networking ("community") features are beginning to permeate many 
> other (previously non social) digital services. There are already 
> and will be more social "features" added to everything.
>  
> Some examples:
>  + a music (or any entertainment content) service where people rate the 
> tunes, movies, etc 
>  
>  + a weather service in which you can see the weather near your friends,
>  
>  + a local nightclub search service on which you see where your friends 
> have already congregated,
>  
>  + an auction service on which your friends or taste neighbors offer 
> opinions/advice before you conclude a purchase
>  
> Take this out into the distance and what you have is an infinite list of 
> socially-aware services. Everything is social...
>  
> [1] http://www.w3.org/2005/Incubator/socialweb/wiki/TopSocialNetworkingSites
>  
> 
> Christine 
> 
> Spime Wrangler
> 
> cperey@perey.com <mailto:cperey@perey.com>
> 
> mobile (Swiss): +41 79 436 68 69
> 
> from US: +1 (617) 848 8159
> 
> from anywhere (Skype): Christine_perey
> 
>  

-- 
Alexander Korth
alex@cityfinger.com
m +49-1577-1704501

Diese Nachricht ist streng vertraulich und enthält rechtlich geschützte 
Informationen. Sie ist nur für die Adressaten bestimmt. Falls Sie diese Mail 
fälschlicherweise erhalten haben, bitten wir Sie freundlicherweise, uns umgehend 
telefonisch oder per Email zu informieren und den Inhalt dieser Nachricht in 
Ihrem System zu löschen. Diese Nachricht ist anfällig für Datenkorruption, 
Abfangen von Daten, nicht autorisierte Änderungen, Verfälschung und Viren. Wir 
senden und empfangen Emails nur auf der Grundlage, dass wir nicht für solche 
Datenkorruption, Abfangen von Daten, nicht autorisierte Änderungen, Verfälschung 
und Viren und deren Konsequenzen haften.

This email is confidential and may contain legally privileged information. It is 
intended only for the addressees. If you have received this e-mail in error, 
kindly notify us immediately by telephone or email and delete the message from 
your system. Thank you. Email is susceptible to data corruption, interception, 
unauthorised amendment, tampering and viruses, and we only send and receive 
emails on the basis that we are not liable for any such corruption, 
interception, unauthorised amendment, tampering and viruses or any consequences 
thereof.

Received on Tuesday, 9 June 2009 14:09:44 UTC