Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Human horizons in social networking

By Tony Henderson - posted Thursday, 1 November 2007


But that is not the way Ng looks at it. For him it comes back to how you define the pure form Web.

"You contribute the content you get the money, that's the traditional definition. However, if the users do not care about that - and if they don't care, no one cares - that changes the script. Will a blogger allow that to happen? Never. Because it is valuable content and it’s quality content. On the other side though Facebook handles a lot more trivia, in the sense it is me saying: 'I like this book'. 'I met this girl' etc. The level of user interaction has a lot to do with it".

Bone fide bloggers are aware of the kind of licencing involved and despite losing control when they are on Facebook, do not worry about that ownership. On the other hand, kids don’t care, they just want to communicate. The value is in the exchange not the product which in this case is intangible.

Advertisement

It seems inexplicable to the older mind but that’s how we communicate most of the time - whether it’s kids at school or old blokes in the teashop. Just listen next time you have a quiet moment!

For entrepreneurs like Ng, there’s the jingle of cash in those apparently pointless one liners - but, and it’s an important but, there’s the joy of building social networks in societies that are fragmenting under the externally impelled forces of globalisation. Online social networking offers a way out, or through!

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Page 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

1 post so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Tony Henderson is a freelance writer and chairman of the Humanist Association of Hong Kong.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Tony Henderson

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 1 comment
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy