This document discusses social network sites and how they can be used to find information. It provides examples of different types of social networks like LinkedIn, CyWorld, Digg and Last.fm. It also summarizes a case study of MySpace that analyzed data from user profiles to find patterns around factors like age, gender, language use. The conclusion considers whether librarians should recommend social networks to help users find information or support.

1. Information Behaviour and Web 2.0 Social Networks Mike Thelwall Statistical Cybermetrics Research Group, University of Wolverhampton , UK Virtual Knowledge Studio (VKS) Information Studies

3. 1. Introduction

13. 2. Examples of social network sites

15. Types of SNS

26. 3. Cybermetric case study of MySpace Illustration of a range of types of “extractable” public information about MySpace members

28. days since last access -members use MySpace once or frequently all Members >>

29. days since last access -members use MySpace once or frequently July 3 members

30. MySpace “age” profile: average “age” is 21

31. younger members have more MySpace friends

34. percentage of profiles containing swearing (typical sample size 20-148 for non-web swearing research) 130 3% 38% 18% UK females 16-19 171 8% 33% 33% UK males 16-19 1,287 2% 38% 11% US females 16-19 1,530 2% 47% 10% US males 16-19 sample size very strong strong moderate