Three main universities offer modules on using networking tools and the impact on society
By
Serene Luo
SOCIAL media tools such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter have spread from the playground of the tech-savvy to the university curriculum here.
And this is not just because they are the 'in' thing, especially among the young. These tools are increasingly adopted by corporations, which expect their employees to use them in their work.
Now you know
Facebook: A social networking site with more than 200 million active users today. People can keep up-to-date with what their friends are doing online, as well as share photographs and play games.
Twitter: A Web/cellphone service, where users beam out their thoughts in short bursts of up to 140 characters. These posts (called 'tweets') are like mini blogs, which their friends (called 'followers') can read using their computers or on their cellphones.
THE man who was on the team that whipped up an online buzz for Mr Barack Obama during his United States presidential campaign last year is a firm believer in social networks being used for more than fun.
Just as he did for Mr Obama's campaign, marketing specialist Scott Goodstein recommends that companies and non-government groups use social media tools for serious purposes - to gain customers or raise money for their causes, for instance.
All the three main local universities - as well as the open university, UniSIM - now offer courses or classes on how to use these networking tools and their impact on society.
Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
