A COMPARISON OF FACEBOOK (F), NING (N) AND ELGG (E)

[Augusto de Franco]

Vale a pena examinar essa comparação entre Facebook, Ning e Elgg, ainda que ela tenha sido feita pelo Elgg e lhe seja fortemente favorável. Melhor seria, é claro, se os autores do estudo comparativo tivessem compreendido a distinção entre rede social e a ferramenta de netweaving incorretamente chamada de rede social.

Social Learning, Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies (26/05/09)

When learning professionals (and others) want to create a free social network, social learning space or collaborative group for their students or employees, we are often asked which platform we recommend. It is usually a matter of "horses for courses" so we have drawn up this comparison of what we perceive to be the strengths and weaknesses of the three free main platforms: Facebook, Ning and Elgg. [If you would like to contribute to this Comparison, please send any feedback to [e-mail]]

What is it?
F = Public, hosted social network for individuals to create user accounts; they can then create groups if they wish
N = Hosted social networking platform to create private social networks; others can then create member accounts
E = Social networking platform (hosted or self-hosted) to create a private social network

Free/open source
F = Free
N = Free
E = Free, Open source (licensed under GPL)

User base
F = Over 200 million users
N = Over 1 million groups
E = Unknown number of networks based on Elgg (tens of thousands of downloads in recent weeks)

Numbers of networks/groups that can be created
F = Users can create as many groups as they like within the Facebook network
N = Individuals can create up to 10 Ning networks (although each network can have multiple sub-groups)
E = Users can create as many groups as they like within the network

Who can join the network?
F = Any one can join Facebook
N = Anyone can join Ning and set up a network. These are either open or closed. Members can be approved first by network creator.
E = Network creator can enable self-registration or access controls in to approve membership

Who can create a (sub-)group (ithin a network)
F = Any member of Facebook
N = Network creator can decide if anyone can create a sub-group or if groups need to be approved
E = Anyone in the network can create a group (group approval can be implemented if required)

Who can join a group
F = Groups can be set up to be open (anyone can join) or closed invited only) in which case joining determined by group owner, or secret group (not displayed in)
N = Groups can be public (anyone can join) or private (moderated membership)
E = Groups can either be open (anyone can join) or closed (invited only) in which case joining determined by group owner

Delete/ban from network/group
F = Facebook can ban member. Group owner can block members
N = Network creator can ban member from network; Group owner can ban member from group
E = Network owner can delete member from network, and remove member from group

Group customisation
F = Limited in terms of functionality; same look and feel as Facebook
N = Good in terms of functionality and look and feel (very visual)
E = Completely customisable in terms of functionality and look and feel

FUNCTIONALITY

User profile page
F = 1 profile page
N = 1 profile page per network (so if a user belongs to multiple Ning networks, this means multiple profile pages)
E = 1 profile page

Personalisation of profile page
F = Personalisation via applications but not of themes
N = Personalisation via apps, and of theme can be allowed by network creator
E = Can be supported by network owner

Social networking
F = Across Facebook
N = Within networks, but can have visibility of contacts across networks
E = Across the network

Internal messaging
F = Yes
N = Yes
E = Yes

Discussions
F = In the individual groups
N = In the network's central Discussion Forum (and in any sub-groups if set up. This can be confusing to some users
E = Only in the groups

Online chat
F = Yes
N = Yes
E = Can be enabled

Social bookmarking
F = Private bookmarks, via Links. Group bookmarks via Links
N = No
E = Can store personal bookmarks or share with others

Blogging
F = No personal blogging although with FB app you can post and share your content across multiple platforms
N = Personal blogging (on profile page)
E = Personal and group (multi-author) blogging

RSS feeds
F = Via FB app
N = Site feeds can be set up by network creator; members can set up feed(s) in widgets on profile page
E = Feeds can be saved and viewed individually or within site feeds

File uploading and sharing
F = Photos and videos can be uploaded in personal area as well as group areas (where enabled by group owner)
N = Videos can be uploaded where enabled by network owner. Other files can be uploaded by users into postings etc but can't be deleted
E = Files (of all types) can be uploaded in a personal space as well as in a group space

Create web pages
F = No
N = Network creator and admin can create pages
E = All members can create web pages

Wiki pages (for collaboration)
F = No
N = No
E = All members can create their own wikis for personal or group use

Micro-blogging (Twitter integration)
F = Twitter feed can be incorporated into status via FB app
N = No, although Twitter Tracker widget can be added to profile page
E = Yes, via the wire, can send to Twitter account

Events
F = Yes. Users can set up events and manage
N = Can be enabled by network owner and determined who can add events
E = Can be enabled by network owner for admin and group owners

OTHER FEATURES

User privacy permissions
F = Members can set privacy permissions across types of resources but not for specific resources
N = Members can set privacy permissions across types of resources but not for specific resources
E = Every member has control over access permission- for every resource they create as well as for personal data

User notification control
F = Yes
N = Yes
E = Yes

Mobile notifications
F = Yes
N = No
E = No

Own domain name
F = No
N = Yes as a premium service
E = Yes

Age restrictions
F = No one younger than 13 can join Facebook
N = No one younger than 13 can join a Ning community
E = Networks can be set up for users of all ages

Ads on site
F = Yes
N = Remove default (and add own) as a premium service
E = As desired

Ease of set up
F = Easy
N = Easy (although some users might require) help
E = More complex. But help is at hand! Our Elgg Services

Ease of use
F = Easy
N = Easy (although some users might require) help
E = More complex, might require support to ensure that all the functionality is appreciated. But help is at hand! Our Elgg Services

Sign in
F = One login via Facebook
N = One central login via Ning OR login to individual networks of which you are a a creator/member
E = One login via the network (single sign-on with other systems could be set up)

Terms of use/Privacy
F = Terms of service include terms like "By using Facebook, you are consenting to have your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States" and "We may provide information to service providers to help us bring you the services we offer"
N = Terms of service include "In its operation of the Ning Platform, and its provision of its services to Network Creators and Third Party Application Developers, Ning collects, uses, and retains all information, including Personal Information and Network Member Data, that you disclose to Network Creators in your use of Networks"
E = Creators of a network determine terms of use and privacy policies; data is not controlled, owned or managed by Elgg

SUMMARY

MOST SUITABLE FOR
F = Individuals for their own personal use to connect with others, and to create/join personal groups as well as groups across the large FB membership base - primarily for social networking and discussion
N = Individuals/ Organisations that want to create one main network (with a number of sub-groups) for users who have a personal choice whether they wish to join or not - primarily for social networking and discussion
E = Organisations (businesses/ education) with a need for a private, organisation-only membership for social networking or with groups for social learning and/or collaborative working

FOR YOU if you want/require
F = (+) Personal networking | Access to huge user membership base for networking | Ease of use
N = (+) Ease of set up and use | Visually attractive look and feel | Networking for a well-defined group of people
E = (+) Social-media rich (integrated) platform | Functionality for collaboration | Fine control of privacy permissions | Complete customisation of functionality and look and feel | Secure and private personal and/or organisational data | A platform without trivial content

NOT FOR YOU if you want/require
F = (-) Functionality for collaborative work | Secure and private personal and/or organisational data | Granular privacy permissions
N = (-) Functionality for collaborative work | Secure and private personal and/or organisational data | Granular privacy permissions | One profile page across multiple networks
E = (-) One-click set-up

OUR EXAMPLES
F = -
N = 25Tools | Workplace Learning 2.0
E = c4lpt.NET

OTHER EXAMPLES
F / N = Examples of use of Ning and Facebook for social networking by learning professionals
E = Examples of use of Elgg for Social and Collaborative Learning

[Augusto de Franco]

Me parece que o ponto positivo do Elgg é a seguinte possibilidade: "All members can create their own wikis for personal or group use". Mas isso não basta para torná-lo melhor do que o Ning como plataforma de netweaving. Por que? Ora, porque é menos amigável. É mais complexo. Não é web (tem que baixar e instalar em um servidor).

O ideal seria - a meu ver - um Ning + Wiki + sistema de gerenciamento de conteúdo (mas que organizasse também pela busca: uma espécie de "Twitter Tracker" interno permanente, porém semântico, farejando não somente palavras e expressões mas constructs). Seria importantíssimo desenvolvermos isso, claro, abrindo o código e estimulando a construção do novo software de netweaving por crowdsourcing. Essa poderia ser uma contribuição inestimável da Escola-de-Redes (é um sonho). Ah!, e além disso a possibilidade de backupear todo o conteúdo a qualquer momento.

Há um campo imenso de trabalho aberto para quem estiver disposto a desenvolver novas tecnologias de netweaving. Cito quatro que me perseguem:

1) uma plataforma adaptada para a transição da organização hierárquica para a organização em rede.

2) uma plataforma para gerenciamento de organizações (de qualquer tipo) que torne possível substituir comando-e-controle por regulação-em-rede (essa seria uma parte da anterior).

3) uma plataforma para governança de cidades inovadoras (mais ambicioso, talvez, mas não impossível).

4) uma plataforma para Arranjos Educativos Locais (ou sistemas sócio-educativos em geral, extra-escolares) pela qual se possa fazer o netweaving de comunidades de aprendizagem no contexto do desenvolvimento local.

Em suma: há muito trabalho.