#DIGC101 Googability
What sort of online presence do Barry Wellman, danah boyd and Howard Rheingold have using Google?
BARRY WELLMAN
On first “Googling” Barry Wellman, the first entry that came up was his University webpage, displaying his About Me.
“Professor Barry Wellman studies networks: community, communication, computer, and social. His research examines virtual community, the virtual workplace, social support, community, kinship, friendship, and social network theory and methods. Based at the University of Toronto, he directs NetLab, is the S.D. Clark Professor at the Department of Sociology, does research at the Centre for Urban and Community Studies, the Knowledge Media Design Institute, and the Bell University Laboratories’ Collaborative Effectiveness Lab, and is a cross-appointed member of the Faculty of Information Studies.”
This beginning section of Barry’s About Me sets him up as a Professor and professional immediately. This makes his presence uninviting and purely professional. He states what he does and what he has studied. Barry does not have any social networking site links, blogs or any interactive media on his site.
Barry does, however, have a twitter page further down the Google site and participates in updating his twitter frequently.
In conclusion, Barry’s web presence is strictly professional on his University site. This is probably because the site is regulated by the University. Through this, Barry doesn’t seem to have a personality whatsoever. His academic profile is shown, achievements and papers displayed, but there lacks personal touch to the entire site. Barry’s twitter profile however brings forth the academic personality; “
DANAH BOYD
@Netwoman brings asa#09 into 21st c tech: using #secondlife to lecture to SFO conf from Torontoabout 2 hours ago from web”. 12:15 PM Aug 10th from web” This tweet feed from danah shows her social, relaxed personallity that she holds online. Her online presence isn’t institutional like Barry Wellman, and it is clear she is engaged and participating in her online presence, participating in her social networking sites as well.danah boyd has a more relaxed, welcoming and social site proves this academic actually has a personality. She displays a photo of herself that’s seperate from that of her University life, gives links to her blog, twitter feed and publications, and has an overall more social feel online. This could have something to do with the age gap between Barry Wellman and danah boyd, with danah being more accustomed to using social networking sites to communicate with others on a more regular basis. “ASA is overwhelming-so many sociologists everywhere! <grin> Went to a few sessions. Now prepping for my talk. Hope folks like it!
HOWARD RHEINGOLD
Also has a participatory online presence, displaying his twitter feed, blog and articles. His wesite appears to be created and written by himself, being free from University regulations. The site was easy to find, discusses his work and his role at the University and uses the website to extend his professional profile in a social networking way. The lack of basic information about him on this site in regards to academic history and what he studies. “I should create a single Facebook group for all alumni of my social media course” This entry from his Twitter shows his online participatory nature and how he has a social presence online, not simply a professional one.
