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Workshop 1 Questions
Question 1: Timeline of significant events in the development of the Internet and Web
In the lecture slides there is the “Web Timeline” (Box 1.2 from Web Social Science). The timeline only goes up to 2011. Suggest 2-3 significant events that either: (1) occurred before 2011 but are missing from this timeline or (2) occurred since 2011. What do you consider to be significant about the events you suggest?
Question 2: The Sociological Hierarchy
The lecture slides shows the “The Sociological Hierarchy”, which can be used to assess the nature of inter-personal ties in an online environment. Based on the Sociological Hierarchy, would you call Reddit an online social network? If you think Reddit is not an online social network, then what type of online environment do you think it is?
Question 3: Two-mode networks constructed from online interactions
Imagine we have collected data from a Facebook page focused on anti-vaccination. We know that:
· Person 1 commented on posts A and B
· Persons 2 and 3 both commented on posts B and C
· Person 4 commented on post D
Answer the following questions:
· Draw a visualisation of this two-mode network.
· Draw the two one-mode networks that can be constructed (or "projected") from the two-mode network. What is another name for these one-mode networks (from the lecture slides)?
· Consider the one-mode projection of people (who have commented on posts on the Facebook page). Using the Sociological Hierarchy, would you call this an online social network? In what cell in the Typology of Online Networks (see lecture) would you place this network, and why?
Question 4: Web 3.0
In the lecture we discussed the first phases of the web (Web 1.0, Web 2.0). Do you think we are
in a new era of the web (what might be called Web 3.0)? If so, what key technology(ies) underly this new era of the web?
Question 5: Generative AI and the "Cyberspace Ethos"
The recent emergence of Generative AI technologies (e.g. ChatGPT, Midjourney) into the mainstream has led many to consider that we are entering a new era in the history of the internet. Are any of the six elements of the "cyberspace ethos" (see lecture slides) relevant to the emergence of Generative AI and its social/political impacts? Are there any additional elements to the cyberspace ethos that could be relevant to this new era we are entering?
Question 6: Online groups, online communities and online social networks
Assume you are studying the interactions of people who are members of an online forum that provides support and advice for people are victims of domestic violence and promotes public awareness campaigns aimed at preventing domestic violence. Using the concepts and terminology covered in the lecture (and in particular, relevant discussion in Matzat 2004), discuss briefly whether you think this online forum represents an “online group” and/or an “online community” and/or an “online social network”.