Requirements on Next Generation Social Networking—A User’s Perspective

When it comes to discussing the future of the Internet, social networking is one of the central buzzwords. The Internet has become a platform where new social networks emerge and the Internet in itself support the more traditional computer supported communication. The way users build and verifies different online networks for communities of people who share interests or individuals who present themselves through user produced content is what makes up the social networking of today. This article discusses general perceived user requirements to the next generation social networks. Particularly, the article presents results of an empirical survey of perceived user requirements to social networks from a group of ICT experts. The survey shows that this group of users has specific requirements to the next generation social networks, and that these can be categorized into high level user requirement dimensions.