The Four Phases of Deep Social Networking (DSN)

The Deep Social Networking (DSN) program will be implemented into four phases.  We are focused on creating “quality” over “quantity” and with that in mind we will provide all four phases of the DSN training to each organization that we work with.  The diagram above shows each of the phases in order starting from the bottom, however it is important to note that each phase is connected to the next in that we will spend some time making sure that the previous phase is understood and has been fully covered.

Network Creation is the first and usually the most exciting phase of DSN.  The organization spends time brainstorming what they want their network to focus on and if there are any particular themes or concepts that will shape their Deep Social Networking site.  Some common themes include:  ID statelessness, human rights, environmental justice, Ethnic Minorities/Indigenous People’s issues, human trafficking, etc.  Depending on the social needs of the organization and the participants, many different Web 2.0 venues are used to share their information. 

The second phase is to Develop Social Media and consists of creating videos, photos, blogs, podcasts, music, art, or any other forms of media that can be shared socially.  By creating and sharing social media, the participants learn how to express to the global community their vision for their organization, as well as, bring social awareness to any particular struggle or human rights violation that the community or organization might be facing.  The social media created by the participants becomes the foundation for the deeper social content that distinguishes deep social networks from typical social networking sites.  Participants will become experts at using all social media tools by learning how to conduct an interview on film, photographing their communities, filming a video blog, recording music, etc.  We will be supported directly by Tel.a.vision, an interactive website which provides basic video editing tools for creating a short video that “tells a vision”. 

The third and most crucial phase is Outreach.  By being active on the most popular social networking sites such as Trunity, Ning, Wiserearth, Wordpress, Youtube, Vimeo, Buddypress, Zooloo, Metafilter, Nowpublic, Facebook, Twitter, and DSN sites our participants will connect with other organizations and people that are willing to collaborate; creating an online community within their networks.  A share tab on each network allows members to consistently send information updates out to all of the popular social networking sites, thus generating more visitors to their networks, and potentially many new members.  Outreach can also be done through the community by renting out Internet Cafés and showing community members how to access and navigate the Deep Social Networks that oftentimes are created specifically for their community.  Newspapers and newsletters can also be used to notify potential members that don’t use the Internet as often.

The final phase of Training for Trainers ensures that the DSN program is sustainable by teaching the participants everything it takes for them to pass on the knowledge they have gained from the previous three DSN workshops.  It is important that participants learn DSN in a manner that allows them to teach it; since they must also show new members, friends, family, and community members with little computer experience how to share their message with the world.  The participants that complete all four DSN phases earn DSN Certificates, proving they are ready to teach an organization, individual, or community the four phases of DSN. 

If used effectively the Internet holds the tools and the power to provide a social platform for the entire world to come together and offer solutions towards unifying the human family.  We must strive to ensure that all voices are heard and that the Internet doesn’t become the marginalized form of media that television, radio, and newspapers have always been.  By conducting our DSN programs in Ethnic Minority/Indigenous People’s rural communities we are bringing the power of the Internet to the people that need it most.  Even as the Internet continues to grow into a social butterfly, without an accurate representation of the entire human family, it will revert back to being just a caterpillar.

The Four Phases of Deep Social Networking (DSN)

The Deep Social Networking (DSN) program will be implemented into four phases.  We are focused on creating “quality” over “quantity” and with that in mind we will provide all four phases of the DSN training to each organization that we work with.  The diagram above shows each of the phases in order starting from the bottom, however it is important to note that each phase is connected to the next in that we will spend some time making sure that the previous phase is understood and has been fully covered.

Network Creation is the first and usually the most exciting phase of DSN.  The organization spends time brainstorming what they want their network to focus on and if there are any particular themes or concepts that will shape their Deep Social Networking site.  Some common themes include:  ID statelessness, human rights, environmental justice, Ethnic Minorities/Indigenous People’s issues, human trafficking, etc.  Depending on the social needs of the organization and the participants, many different Web 2.0 venues are used to share their information. 

The second phase is to Develop Social Media and consists of creating videos, photos, blogs, podcasts, music, art, or any other forms of media that can be shared socially.  By creating and sharing social media, the participants learn how to express to the global community their vision for their organization, as well as, bring social awareness to any particular struggle or human rights violation that the community or organization might be facing.  The social media created by the participants becomes the foundation for the deeper social content that distinguishes deep social networks from typical social networking sites.  Participants will become experts at using all social media tools by learning how to conduct an interview on film, photographing their communities, filming a video blog, recording music, etc.  We will be supported directly by Tel.a.vision, an interactive website which provides basic video editing tools for creating a short video that “tells a vision”. 

The third and most crucial phase is Outreach.  By being active on the most popular social networking sites such as Trunity, Ning, Wiserearth, Wordpress, Youtube, Vimeo, Buddypress, Zooloo, Metafilter, Nowpublic, Facebook, Twitter, and DSN sites our participants will connect with other organizations and people that are willing to collaborate; creating an online community within their networks.  A share tab on each network allows members to consistently send information updates out to all of the popular social networking sites, thus generating more visitors to their networks, and potentially many new members.  Outreach can also be done through the community by renting out Internet Cafés and showing community members how to access and navigate the Deep Social Networks that oftentimes are created specifically for their community.  Newspapers and newsletters can also be used to notify potential members that don’t use the Internet as often.

The final phase of Training for Trainers ensures that the DSN program is sustainable by teaching the participants everything it takes for them to pass on the knowledge they have gained from the previous three DSN workshops.  It is important that participants learn DSN in a manner that allows them to teach it; since they must also show new members, friends, family, and community members with little computer experience how to share their message with the world.  The participants that complete all four DSN phases earn DSN Certificates, proving they are ready to teach an organization, individual, or community the four phases of DSN. 

If used effectively the Internet holds the tools and the power to provide a social platform for the entire world to come together and offer solutions towards unifying the human family.  We must strive to ensure that all voices are heard and that the Internet doesn’t become the marginalized form of media that television, radio, and newspapers have always been.  By conducting our DSN programs in Ethnic Minority/Indigenous People’s rural communities we are bringing the power of the Internet to the people that need it most.  Even as the Internet continues to grow into a social butterfly, without an accurate representation of the entire human family, it will revert back to being just a caterpillar.