Introduction

A great deal of current online engagement is mediated through networks – platforms or services that gather together users and content based on specific subjects, communities, geographical areas, professions, or personal needs. As the internet landscape has matured, these networks have begun to be differentiated according to their purposes, the forms of engagement in which they specialise.

Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit you will be able to:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of different kinds of online networks.
• Understand issues of power and influence in online networks.
• Identify the different forms of engagement that different networks are optimised for.
• Examine your current network usage against your desired functionality and explore the use of alternative networks.

Terminology

Social networking:
A range of online networks that support social activities such as communication, sharing and collaboration

Communication networks:
Online networks that exist to support communication between individuals, organisations and communities

Sharing networks:
Online networks that support sharing of digital content such as images, documents, videos, posts

Collaboration networks:
Online networks designed to facilitate collaborative activities

Open networks:
Online networks that follow an open policy, allowing people to share, communicate and/or collaborate with the intention of promoting inclusion, access and altruistic sharing.

Subject networks:
Online networks that focus on a particular or specialist subject area

Synchronous communication:
Online communication in real-time (at the same time) enabling immediate and instant interaction such as instant messaging, chat, webinars

Asynchronous communication:
Communication which takes place across networks intermittently (not at the same time) enabling communication across time zones and distance such as email, discussion forums, microblogging