Tutorial Six

Provide the web address and the name of the community you are investigating.

www.bebo.com

What is the brief or focus of this community.

To provide a place to display your identity through photos, videos and conversations others can view. Somewhere to share information or to read others information and finding things in common and making friends with them.

What services are provided? How interactive is this site? How can people contribute?

Bebo is a very social site, anyone can join but to interact with others you must firstly request to be their friend, once they've confirmed they know you then communication can start. people can have their pages made private, allowing only friends to view them however most pages are public for everyone to see.

Why do people contribute to this community? What is it they are seeking?

People contribute to this community because they want to be communicating with their friends when they are away from school or have moved away and want to stay in contact. Others may be wanting to seek friends who have similar things in common.



Cut and paste an example of the topics being discussed.

Communication between friends, organising hangout time: "um im in hammy on the 28th june for two weeks when are you back home?"


Considering material presented during the course and make comment on the potential ethical issues that may arise in this community.



People who are part of this community are able to post photos of anyone without first obtaining permission from them. Also information about people can easily be spread through schools, towns, groups of friends which may be private and not wanting to be discussed publicly. A lot of information about the page's owner is displayed such as age, hometown, school, hobbies, favourite movies/music etc which if abused could lead to identity theft or dangerous situations if people make up an identity and ask to meet with you.



Consider material presented during the lecture and make comments on the benefits this community holds over traditional notions of community.


•Can allow silent observation prior to participation. This means that if someone is not sure how something is done they are able to watch and learn how others do it without physically being there and feeling the pressure of having people around you.
•Often without monetary cost. To do things within a community such as your township often means money must be spent. for example going to the movies, catching up with friends over coffee.
•Can provide large amounts of information. For example information is able to be source from a wider range of people living in different situations or having different amounts of knowledge in the subject.
•Can provide connections over great distances instantly. This means that communication between friends and family living overseas is able to be maintained. It also relates to making new friendships with people with the same interests/hobbies who don't live near you


Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment what this community lacks or can not provide which traditional communities can.

This community doesn't allow the connection that face-to-face or verbal communication within a more traditional community does. These online communities can also be dangerous for everyone. People can stalk children or steal identity if bloggers post too much personal information. You can't always guarantee you are talking to the person you think you are.