Social Networking
S i lN t ki
and Youth Work
Jess Nichols

Agenda
What are Social Networks?
Benefits of using Social Networks
Benefits of using Social Networks
Setting Up Social Networks
g p
Commonly Used Social Networks
Managing Social Networks

What are Social Networks?

Definition
D fi iti
• S i l
Social networking is the practice of
ki i h i f
p g
expanding the number of one's business
and/or social contacts by making connections
through individuals. 1
th h i di id l
• Social Networking Sites are the Websites
dedicated to Social Networking.
1 http://bit.ly/DoOmS

Benefits of Social Networks

Setting up Social Networks

Commonly Used Social Networks

Bebo Profiles
B b P fil
• One to One Relationships between users
• Customised page
• Profiles defined by member number or
Profiles defined by member number or
username
• Integration with AOL Instant Messenger
(AIM)

Why use Bebo Profiles?
Wh B b P fil ?
• Still heavily utilised with youths
• User‐friendly timeline approach
• Ability to customise site to fit in with brand
Ability to customise site to fit in with brand
• Multimedia integration
g
• Integration of preapproved games and
functions

MySpace Profiles
M S P fil
• One to One Relationships
• Focus on communication with other ‘friends’
• Customisation of page
Customisation of page
• Integration of preapproved games and
g p pp g
functions

Why use Myspace Profiles?
Wh M P fil ?
• Still used heavily with youths
• More commonly used than Bebo
• Ability to customise site to fit in with brand
Ability to customise site to fit in with brand
• Multimedia integration (primarily music)
g (p y )
• Integration of preapproved games and
functions

Facebook Groups
F b kG
• One to Many Relationship
• Users join based on interests
• Users are Members of groups
Users are ‘Members’ of groups
• Includes a wall and discussion board
• Must be a Facebook member to create a
group

Why use Facebook Groups?
Wh F b kG ?
• Allows for private groups to be established
• Ability to email members of the group (up to
5000 members)
5000 members)
• Users can contact administrators directly
• Appoint Officers as key contact points

Facebook Profiles
F b k P fil
• One to One Relationship
• Must accept friendships directly
• Ability to include status updates photos
Ability to include status updates, photos,
applications etc.

Why use Facebook Profiles?
Wh F b k P fil ?
• To build up individual bonds between users
• Provides ability to contact users on a one to
one basis
one basis
• Can invite users to Youth events

WHEN NOT TO USE PROFILES
WHEN NOT TO USE PROFILES
According to Facebook:
Profiles can only be used
y
to represent an individual,
p ,
and must be held under an
and must be held under an
individual name.
individual name.

Facebook Pages
F b kP
• One to Many Relationship
• Only public
• Users are Fans of pages
Users are ‘Fans’ of pages
• Includes a wall and discussion board
• Do not need to be a Facebook member to
create a page

Why use Facebook Pages?
Wh F b kP ?
• ‘Profile’ for businesses and organisations
• All posts appear as the brand/organisation
• Ability to update members of the group
Ability to update members of the group
through notifications
• Users cannot contact administrators directly
via Facebook profile but can provide email
via Facebook profile but can provide email
addresses for users to contact.

Twitter Profiles
T itt P fil
• One to Many Relationship
• Users follow interesting profiles
• Broadcast news links and events through 140
Broadcast news, links and events through 140
characters
• Creating conversation with other users

Why use Twitter Profiles?
Wh T itt P fil ?
• All posts appear as the brand/organisation
• Providing the latest news on your Youth
Organisation
• Can connect and directly communicate with
other Youth Organisations
• Build up conversations and relationships with
Build up conversations and relationships with
youths
• http://business.twitter.com/twitter101/

Wordpress Blogs
W d Bl
• One to Many Relationship
• No direct relationships, allows you to
broadcast
• A collection of ‘posts’ – short articles with
multimedia components relating to a topic

Why use Wordpress Blogs?
Wh W d Bl ?
• Free web hosting site (only need to purchase
a domain)
d i )
• Easy web publication suite
Easy web publication suite
• Broadcast events and news articles relevant
to your Youth Work
• Allows conversations through comments
Allows conversations through comments

Managing Social Networks

KEEP IT YOURS
KEEP IT YOURS
KEEP IT SIMPLE
KEEP IT SIMPLE
KEEP IT LOW
KEEP IT CONSISTENT
KEEP IT CONSISTENT

Check at least TWICE a day
Check at least TWICE a day
Update at least ONCE
U d t t l t ONCE per week
k

Ensure there is a distinction between your
Ensure there is a distinction between your
personal and business accounts
Private accounts where possible
Pi t t h ibl
Never post phone numbers, addresses, email
accounts or photos you would like your
grandmother to see
grandmother to see
Never log into a website where the URL does
not equal the domain
t l th d i

Constant checking is key to maintenance
Constant checking is key to maintenance
Manually remove offending material
Block or remove repeat offenders
Bl k ff d
Consider writing user guidelines for staff and youths

Email out a maximum of once every two days
Email out a maximum of once every two days
Don’t repeat content in consecutive posts
Check integration settings
Check integration settings
Ensure passwords are secure

http://www.bebo.com
h // b b
http://www.myspace.com
http://www.facebook.com
http://www facebook com
http://www.twitter.com
http://www.wordpress.com
http://www wordpress com

http://twitter.com/jessnichols
http://facebook.com/jessnichols
http://jessnichols.wordpress.com
jess.kate@gmail.com
j k t @ il