Using Social Media for Global Security

Chapter 2

Understanding Global Social Media Use

You cannot effectively use something that you do not understand. Using social media to solve complex security problems requires understanding exactly what social media is and how people use it, especially in the developing world. This chapter should serve as a reference guide for all things social media as you think about how to construct and apply various analytical methods and crowdsourcing platforms. It defines social media technologies, explains its growth and appeal, shows the different types of social media technologies, and illustrates how they are used in every part of the world. We also sprinkle various tips and advice applicable to any relevant social media and security project throughout the chapter.

Note

We will periodically update the information in this chapter on the companion website.

Defining Social Media

Social media is fast becoming a term that means everything to everyone, and thus does not really mean anything anymore. By defining social media, we want to focus the scope of this book and the resulting efforts, and to ensure you use only the most relevant and appropriate technologies. Also, the term “social media” tends to have a Western bias that should be overcome. News articles and books about social media likely discuss Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms that Western users use heavily. However, they ignore social media platforms, such as Orkut, that are popular in only certain parts of the ...