Facts & Figures About Internet Use
The Pew Internet & American Life Project provides snapshots of demographic and behavioral characteristics of Internet users.
Latest Trends (Pew Internet & American Life Project)
The Pew Center reports that 72% of adult Americans go online, and there are strong correlates between Internet access and income and educational attainment. In addition, the Institute for Politics, Democracy, and the Internet found that 69% of online adults who are politically active are Influentials or people who serve as opinion leaders among family and friends. By using the Internet to reach these people, activists can get their message out to a larger less politically active audience.
There are many people, however, who have little or no access to the Internet.
According to the 2005 National Technology Scan, there are millions of Americans who voluntarily choose not to subscribe to Internet access at home. Millions more have no choice. They are cut off from the Internet because of the digital divide.
Reaching these people remains an important consideration when you are designing services for a population group.
Google News (search all recent news, including alternative online press)
Web 2.0 - User Created Content
Web 2.0 is the term used to describe a new kind of website that allows users to generate content easily and effectively. It is more interactive than a traditional website, which simply gives you information without interactivity. If you can interact with a site or create some or all of the content yourself, chances are you're using Web 2.0 technology.
Blogs (Weblogs)
Blogs are frequently-updated web journals that are extremely easy to create and maintain, requiring no knowledge of HTML.
Some types of blogs include personal, institutional, and political. Political and activist blogs especially have had a significant impact on the political process in recent years.
A service called RSS allows people to subscribe to blogs (and other sources) and keep current. The easiest way to do this is with a web-based aggregator such as Bloglines. The blogosphere has taken on a life of its own and has interesting implications for journalism and information dissemination in general.
You can search blogs using Technorati and Google Blog Search.
Online Petitions
Web petitions:
Email petitions: sign and forward to "everyone you know." Not a good idea.
Email campaigns
Attempts to influence policy by emailing officials or the media.
Keep in mind, however, that certain activists
do not believe that e-mail campaigns are as effective as other means of
protest because they can be easily ignored or even blocked by the
recipient.
Older Technologies: Mailing Lists (Email Lists)
- Subscribe to receive emails on a certain topic
- Moderated or unmoderated
- One, many, or all subscribers may post
- Delivery options: digests, summaries
- Archives on the Web (sometimes)
- User-end issues: volume, management
- Official catalog of LISTSERV lists
Older Technologies: Discussion Groups
- Unlike email, which comes to you, you must go to a discussion group!
- Two major types: USENET (now also via Google Groups) and Yahoo! Groups
- USENET: different protocol; closed, hierarchical system (approval process required for new groups); older (1979). Example: soc.rights.human
- Yahoo! Groups: open, Web-based. Integrated with mailing list function. Example: Freecycle Noho.
- Registration sometimes required to read or post to a Yahoo group.
The Bleeding Edge (New Technologies)
User-created content is becoming key. Allowing your audience to help you build a site or a campaign can be invaluable!
- Video: As digital video becomes easier to use and upload, video is being used by more and more people to get their message out.
- YouTube is a free way to share digital video
- Social Networking: These are sites which encourage socialization among like-minded people, and are increasingly being used by organizations and campaigns.
- Podcasting: like blogging, except that audio files (instead of text) are posted regularly. Special podcast feeds allow people to quickly find and download podcasts to their iPod (hence the name) or to any device that can play MP3s.
Using the Internet to Get Your Message Out
Start a Blog
This is probably the quickest & easiest way to establish an online presence for you or your group. Very little technical know-how is needed. Just choose a free blog provider, such as Blogger or LiveJournal, follow the simple instructions, and you're off!
Create a Website
Can range from very easy--using a free, template-based service such as Yahoo! Geocities--to quite elaborate, if you have your own server space and some coding knowledge. If you are creating a website for an organization, ask whether they have access to server space. If you are creating one on your own, most Internet Service Providers (such as AOL, Verizon, Comcast, etc.) provide you with a certain amount of personal Web server space.
Why not include some of the add-ins discussed here, like a Contact Elected Officials/Media sticker or a link to an online petition of your own creation?
Create a Group
- Yahoo! Groups: Anyone can create a Yahoo! group. All you need to do is create a free account with Yahoo! and then click the "Start a new group" icon. What better way to publicize your new Yahoo! group than on your new blog or website?
- Frappr: With Frappr, you can create a group, map group members, exchange photos, and more. You can also search for other groups that match your interests. Just click on the Create Group tab and follow the instructions.
Want to advertise your group? Put a link to it on your blog or web site!
Start a Wiki or Launch a Podcast
Online wiki services are starting to pop up and many do not charge a fee. Check out PBWiki (it's as easy to make as a peanut butter sandwich) and JotSpot. Keep in mind that wikis have a slightly unique language that you will need to learn, but both of these services are very easy to use and set up.
Although there is no free online podcasting service available yet, you can still learn the basics on your own. Check out this CNet Weekend Project which should get you up and running in no time. There are some more podcasting resources at PodCast411 that you may find useful.
One Last Thing...
Be sure to check out the Organizer's Collaborative. Their mission is to provide "social change groups with proven, easy-to-use technology and support that is specific to the needs of organizers." Some of the resources they provide are links to free software and lists of web resources.
Ask the Library!
The staff at Babson Library are happy to work with you to find the information you need. There are four ways to contact the library:
- In person: Stop by the Information Desk anytime the library is open (hours).
- Via Instant Messenger: Our screen name for AOL and Yahoo is babsonlibrarian, and for MSN is babsonlibrarian@hotmail.com. (learn more)
- By email: Fill out the Ask the Library! form, and someone will get back to you within 24 hours.
- By phone: Call the Information desk at x3315 (on-campus); (413) 748-3315 (local); or (800) 730-5279 (toll-free).
