Wikis as social software

Defining social software

• Related concepts: Web 2.0 (but be careful how you use it!); read-write Web.

• Active (production) vs. passive (consumption) interaction with Web.

• Facilitates community-building, collaboration, communication.

Examples of social software applications:

• Blogs

• Wikis

• RSS

• Bulletin boards

• Social networking software (MySpace, Friendster, Facebook, Tribe, etc.)

• Social bookmarking software (Del.icio.us, Furl, Connotea, etc.)

• Photo sharing (Flickr - library example)

• Video sharing (YouTube)

• Music preferences (Last.fm, AudioScrobbler)

• Books (Library Thing)

• Finding people with shared interests/goals (43 Things, 43 Places, 43 People, All Consuming)

• Instant messaging

Wikis vs. blogs: what's the difference?

• See also RSS and Blogs In Libraries