Connected Action

Sociology and the Internet, Social Media, Networks and Mobile Social Software

University of Haifa and IBM Research talk on Social Media Networks, February 24, 2010

February 13th, 2010 by Marc Smith · 2 Comments

After speaking at the Israel Internet Association conference February 22, I will speak at IBM Research in Haifa at an event co-sponsored by the University of Haifa Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the M.A. program in Sociology of Technology.  My hosts are Professor Gustavo Mesch from the university and Dr. Adam Perer from IBM research.

Wednesday, February 24th, 1 pm

IBM Building
Haifa University

Title: Visualizing collections of social media connections: using social network analysis to assess, evaluate and measure social media engagement

Abstract: Social networks are created whenever people interact.  These networks become more visible when interactions take place through social media.  Social networks form when people link, reply, comment, edit, tag, and friend one another.  Sub-populations are formed whenever people mention the same company, products, event, topic, or personality.  Using social network analysis on collections of social media connections reveals important patterns: how are people clustered and grouped, where are the gaps, who plays the roles of bridge, hub, and isolate? In this talk I will display maps of twitter, you tube, flickr, and enterprise email systems and demonstrate several tools that can be used to collect, analyze, map and monitor social media, including the free and open NodeXL (network overview, discovery and exploration) add-in Excel 2007.

Here, for example, is a map of the connections among people who recently mentioned “haifa” in twitter sized by number of followers:

Some photos taken during the trip are available after the jump:

Tel Aviv GraffitiTel Aviv GraffitiNo more pay phones in Tel AvivOlives! in Tel AvivCrafts in Tel AvivA place to hang your shmates in Tel AvivAdam in the Market in Tel AvivTel AvivStreet market in Tel AvivTel AvivBita and Adam in Tel AvivTel AvivTel AvivGraffiti in Tel AvivGraffiti in Tel AvivTel AvivBreakfast (around noon) in Tel AvivISOC-IL Web 10 Conference, Airport City, IsraelAt the ISOC-IL 10 conferenceJerusalem, IsraelAntenae in Jerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelMarc in Jerusalem, IsraelThe Western Wall in Jerusalem, IsraelMarc in Jerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelJerusalem, IsraelHaifa Art Mall CeilingAdam Perer at IBM HaifaAdam Perer at IBM HaifaIBM Research HaifaHaifaIBM Research, HaifaHaifa, IsraelUniversity of Haifa: Social Science DepartmentsUniversity of Haifa CampusUniversity of HaifaGustavo Mesch and Marc Smith at the University of Haifa, Department of SociologyGustavo Mesch at University of Haifa, Department of SociologyPort of HaifaUniversity of Haifa Sociologists (and me)!University of Haifa Sociologists!Ba'hai Temple Haifa, IsraelHaifa, IsraelShips in the port of HaifaViews of HaifaFarms in Northern IsraelClose to the border with JordanYardenit: Baptisms in the river JordanYardenit: Baptisms in the river JordanHaifa and the north of IsraelYardenitYardenitYardenit: Catfish in the Jordan River in the North of IsraelYardenitYardenitYardenitThe North of IsraelLake Tiberius and the North of IsraelLake Tiberius and the North of IsraelThe North of IsraelLake Tiberius and the North of IsraelGustavo Mesch in the North of IsraelThe North of IsraelThe North of IsraelThe North of IsraelNear Nazareth in the North of IsraelIn the North of IsraelTowns in the North of IsraelHaifa apartment buildings (what a view!)Haifa and the North of IsraelHaifa and the North of IsraelDan Gardens Hotel, HaifaHaifa and the North of IsraelHaifa and the north of IsraelHaifa and the north of IsraelMarc speaks at ISOC-IL 10Marc speaks at ISOC-IL 10Marc speaks at ISOC-IL 10Madeline loses a toothJaffa, IsraelFood in Jaffo, IsraelAdam dines in JaffoI had the chickenRestaurant in JaffoJaffoJaffoTel Aviv lights along the coastRestaurant in JaffoSteps in JaffoTel AvivTel AvivMadeline in Tel AvivJelly Fish (big one!) in the shores of Tel AvivTel AvivOn the beach in Tel AvivTel Aviv beach hotelsTel Aviv reflectionsTel Aviv hotelsTel Aviv beachTel AvivTel Aviv hotels on the beachJuice bar in Tel AvivTel Aviv SkyscrapersTel Aviv SykscrapersTel Aviv SykscrapersTel Aviv SykscrapersTel Aviv SykscrapersStreet scene Tel AvivSail boat on the MediterraneanOn the beach in Tel AvivMarc squints in Mediterranean sun in Tel AvivOn the beach in Tel AvivBeach hotel in Tel AvivOn the beachMarc's shadow on Mediterranean  sandJapanese erasers make the long flight more fun!Japanese erasers make the long flight more fun!

Tags: Collective Action · Connected Action · IBM · NodeXL · Research · Social Interaction · Social Media · Social network · Social Network Analysis · Talks · University · Visualization