Web 2.0 : the web of communities

Shortcuts

Reportages

By Jasmina Najjar
March 03, 2008

We all keep hearing people rave about Web 2.0, but what exactly is it? It is actually something we use every day without realizing it. Simply put, Web 2.0 is a term that first came into use in 2004 to describe an apparent ongoing transition of the World Wide Web from a collection of websites to a mature computing platform with greater dynamic user participation, social interaction and collaboration. Many label it as the second generation of the web which has evolved and improved over time and now offers better services like blogs, wiki’s, social networking sites, communication tools etc. that let people come together and share information online in novel ways.

Web 2.0: Bringing People Together

Photo by: Mounia Rotil

Needless to say Web 2.0 has generated some degree of controversy. Many question the credibility of projects such as Wikipedia (an online encyclopaedia anyone can edit and contribute to, hence raising questions about information accuracy), privacy issues that arise as a result of social networking sites and even the marketing, advertising and financial worth and potential of such ‘virtual assets’. But regardless of the hubbub, the proliferation of Web 2.0 and mass manifestation of social networking sites is undeniable. From fun platforms like Facebook and MySpace to professional ones like LinkedIn and Xing to elitist invitation only A-list communities like ASmallWorld (nicknamed ‘a snob world’ by some), networking sites are the ‘in’ thing as they are convenient ways of communicating, ‘meeting’ people and self-expression.

Read the rest Suivant

The Face of Lebanese Interaction

(Advertisement)