Online social networks and networks in general can be used to fulfill a variety of needs. As described by Schmidt (2006) cited by Poller (2008) they can support humans to interact, collaborate and communicate. Support is given through three basic functions: information management, identification management and relationship management.

This blog is going to discuss the concept of sharing information on the web and in social networks and using it as a communication medium to support or block ideas or initiatives. There are many controversies about the information available through online social networks and many groupings participate in them for example social activist &political groups.

One very controversial and current issue in Germany is Stuttgart 21, a group formed to stop the construction of a new train station in Germany. This initiative takes advantage of the possibilities of creating a network (Group on Facebok) of opponents to organize demonstrations and mobilize further followers mobilize followers (http://www.kopfbahnhof-21.de/).

But what happens if small minority groupings create website with racist’s content. Nazis for example are able to communicate and reach many more people than they have been able to in the past. Especially teenagers can be attracted through Facebook and StudiVZ, enabling Nazis to convince further followers of their racist’s ideologies (Lutz, 2010).

Furthermore, social networks enable politicians to reach new potential voters. An example is the election of the president in Germany this year, candidate Gauck who started as an outsider in the election was able to gain popularity through presence in social networks (Klopp, 2010). Does this additional information really improve the reader’s knowledge about the political scene?

Although controversial information can be shared, an online social network can also be used for the development of new ideas, connecting specialist and improving current processes.

As an example, the ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in Germany took advantage of an online platform/network in order to eliminate weaknesses of regional innovation deficits (Aderhold, 2004). The project was called InnoRegio (ended around 2005), the initiative was hoped to have positive effects on regional development and the creation of a sustainable innovation strategy, see also http://www.bmbf.de/de/1277.php

Another governmental initiative of online networks is being used to link schools, kindergardens, social services for teenagers and apprentice’s alliances to establish a broadly applied learning culture in Germany (Aderhold, 2004).

The point is that the usability of online social network and its corresponding benefit for society depends on the content of the portrayed message. While negative forces can abuse it, it can help to connect groups that otherwise would not be able to learn and profit from each other. The immense availability of information on the internet creates the necessity of groups with common interest to join and leverage their knowledge. In the end, social networks enable people to connect and make information available to each other, important is that the reader has the repsonsibility to judge whether this information is "correct" or "ethical".

References:
Aderhold, J. (2004) From und Funktion sozialer Netzwerke in Wirtschaft und Gesellschafft: Beziehungsgeflechte als Vermittler zwischen Erreichbarkeit und Zugaengikeit. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag fuer Soziale Wissenschafte.

Klopp, Tina (2010) In sozialen Netzwerken fiebern die Menschen mit [WWW] Die Zeit. Available from: http://www.zeit.de/digital/internet/2010-06/twitter-facebook-for-president [Accessed 26/11/2010]

Lutz, Martin (2010) Die NPD unterwandert Facebook und Studivz [WWW] Welt Online. Available from: http://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article7087244/Die-NPD-unterwandert-Facebook-und-StudiVZ.html [Accessed 26/11/2010]

Poller, Andreas (2008) Privatsphaerenschutz in Sozialen-Netzwerke-Plattformen [WWW] Frauenhofer Institut Sichere Informations-technologie. Available from: http://www.sit.fraunhofer.de/Images/SocNetStudie_Deu_Final_tcm501-35966.pdf [Accessed 26/11/2010]