There has been much debate about the social meanings and use of new technologies in the territory of Web 2.0. In an social environment where users have supposed unlimited access to content and uploads, data assumes immense worth and is of the highest social importance. The symbolic associations for users in terms of cultivating a pervasive and ever-present presence have been reworked for content that spans SNSs, blogs, IM as well as the ‘You’ contacted via mobile phone. Thus social presence has become a meaningful commodity that is vilified by the participation across Web 2.0 and have been most noticeable on SNSs.In this context, identity is being treated as a product in its own right that can be traded and used as a currency in order to have purchase on others. This in turn may mean that there are possible sources for conflict as individuals choose to act (or not to act) upon the social prompts from others. Web 2.0 is then a part of more complex sets of relations that are layered by networks of contact and visible social presence.
Specifically this has been the dominant story of Generation-i (the cohort of young people born in the 1980s and raised with technology). Within this tale of burgeoning social networks and omnipresence online the interactions are distinct from previous ‘cyber space’ identities. Assumptions and expectations are based around emphasis on the ‘here’ and ‘now’ where interactions are valued for their ‘liveness’ and true to life social recognition. The social tools that are in use carry social weight compared to previous static settings of email address and chatroom user names. In Web 2.0 land interactions are fluid and can be ‘tied down’ only in so far as they can be gotten hold of via constantly modified social presence. The next step up from this has been debated by Mike Harvey's article The Future of Social Networking in The Times where social information is beamed to others via mobile devices. Like something out of Spielberg's 2002 Minority Report information would be received as you and your device cross the thresholds of shops, restaurants and even parties. Although with a nod to Cruise’s lack of on screen charisma these scenarios seem too fantastic and far off from having any real consequence any time soon.
Also we'd all look a little silly in those gloves.
