Week 6: Extra Practice Handout

Online Social Communities

Introduction & Background information:

- Human live within social communities.

- Networks affect (1)____________: contribute to who we are as (2)____________
- All aspects influenced by social networks: work, play, professional, family & friend
- We influence others in social networks

Need for social interaction  Social networks and online communities (3)____________ when
technology widely available.

Topic: (4)____________

5 parts:

- Personal
- Professional
- Commercial
- Investment
- Play

1. Personal Relationship:
Positive aspects: new friends & strengthen relationships with old friends & family.
(5)____________with others
Show pics
Give good/ bad news
Express opinions
E.g. (6)____________ networks: Facebook, Twitter, RenRen, Mixi
Research: most users socially benefit from social networks
50% teens: relationships with friends improve
(7)____________: new friends easily with social networking sites.
50% older users: feel happier, more connected, improved (8)____________

2. Professional Connection:
Exchange information & contacts
E.g.: LinkedIn, Ning, Xing  100s of millions of active users
Strengthen & expand networks
Look for new business opportunities/ jobs
(9)____________ specialized knowledge
Feel more connected with other professionals
E.g.: Catalyst & CareerDiva:
Exchange business information for professional support
Share experiences & frustrations
Gain (10)____________& advice
3. Commercial Purposes:
Companies want online markets  sell goods/ services & build social communities through
SMM - (11)____________
SMM tools: social networking websites  get users’ (12)____________– a type of business
(13)____________that
Increases (14)____________
Enhances customer base
(15)____________ product information fast
Generates social interaction

4. Investment:
Find resources to operate and expand
Include (16)____________ and social investment
E.g.: nonprofit organizations: Red Cross, WWF, TED  raise awareness of ideas and funds
(17)____________: members give donations, share ideas & passion
E.g.: Kickstarter, Meetup, IndieGogo; NGOs + nonprofits

5. Play:
What do for leisure & fun
Gaming = playing online games with others in (18)____________community
Game Studies poll: about 1:4 internet users on gaming sites daily
E.g.: Steam, GameSpot, Kotaku, etc.: gamers interact with games and (19)____________
number of players around the world.
Feel a sense of (20)____________, a sense of belonging – part of a genuine community