Harnessing the Power of Social Interaction Technologies

As the popularity of social media continues to escalate, participatory modes of content production symbolize an important shift from the user vs. producer paradigm to the social production of content. Participatory media outlets such as blogs, photo and video sharing services, and online social networks are revolutionizing the way people create, consume, distribute, and use media. These interactive spaces are powered by social interaction technologies (SIT), which have been defined as a new generation of Internet-based tools and techniques designed to initiate, share, and maintain interactive and collaborative activities online. Much of the focus of the present issue is on active user involvement in technologically mediated environments enabled by SIT, and the ways society can harness the power of technology for value creation, learning, citizen engagement, bottom-up grassroots initiatives, and collaboration.