A virtual community and a social networking web site Essay

QUESTION 1. Write a paragraph to explain and distinguish between a virtual community and a social networking web site. In Social networks everyone has their own social network (whether online or offline). Everyone has friends, families, and people they are acquainted with. An online social networking site simply makes our social networks visible to others who are not in our immediate network. So the single most important feature that distinguishes a social network from a community is how people are held together on these sites. In a social network, people are held together by pre-established interpersonal relationships, such as kinship, friendship, classmates, colleagues, business partners, etc. The connections are built one at a time (i.e. you connect directly with another user). The primary reason that people join a social networking site is to maintain old relationships and establish new ones to expand their network. Some obvious examples of social networks are Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn. One interesting feature about people’s social networks is that they are extremely unique. It is actually very difficult to fake a Facebook or LinkedIn profile, because your friends (or who you connect to) will collectively identify you. Unlike social networks, communities (both online and offline) are more interesting from a social anthropological perspective, because they often consist of people from all walks of life that seem to have no relationship at all. Yet, as we’ve learned from history, communities are very robust social structures. So what is it that holds these communities together? Communities are held together by common interest. It may be a hobby, something the community members are passionate about, a common goal, a common project, or merely the preference for a similar lifestyle, geographical location, or profession. Clearly people join the community because they care about this common interest that glues the community members together. Some stay because they felt the urge to contribute to the cause; others come because they can benefit from being part of the community. In communities identity are easily forged. QUESTION 2. Identify a product that could be promoted using a social networking site such as Facebook. Explain why your chosen product would be a good candidate for a social networking-based promotion strategy. Amazon  products such as electronics and wears are definitely liable products for promotion on Social networking sites. Especially when discounted this products call for great awareness knowing that large amount of people or customers demand and are in search of these products in cheaper, available and from trusted companies. These products being available for sales online with sound delivery and trust (in returns and delivery) calls for great insight for people to generate interest, confidence and preference for purchase. Consequently, people or customers through the social networking sites creates vast awareness in conversations and sharing thoughts and likeness for such products or promotion. QUESTION 3. Describe 2 or 3 specific apps that could use a smart phones GPS capability. State the benefits of using the GPS in the app in each case. Find my phone Find My Phone is a GPS tracking application on android phones that makes it easy for you to track and locate a stolen phone. This phone tracker app includes a navigational feature and assistance and as long as the location app is running, it can help locate a stolen or lost phone quickly and easily. The app uses secure data from cell phone companies to track and display the phone location on the Find My Phone map. For this feature to function, the Find My Phone app needs to be installed on both your phone and the phone of the person you want to track or locate. Find My Phone uses state-of-the-art GPS technology to accurately locate phones. Note: For this feature to function, the Find My Phone app needs to be installed on both your phone and the phone of the person you want to track or locate Google Maps The Google Maps app for Android phones and tablets makes navigating to your desired location faster and easier. It enables you find the best spots in town and the information you need to get there. Google Maps includes various relevant features such as †¢ Comprehensive, accurate maps in 220 countries and territories †¢ Voice-guided GPS navigation for driving, biking, and walking †¢ Transit directions and maps for over 15,000 towns and cities †¢ Live traffic conditions, incident reports, and automatic rerouting to find the best route †¢ Detailed information on more than 100 million places  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Street View and indoor imagery for restaurants, museums, and more.