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The  Roles  of  Web  2.0  Tools  in  Socio-Economic  Development  of  Individuals  and Societies in Developing Countries

Lucian Ngeze

Abstract

Internet technologies have changed the way we share, collaborate and disseminate information. The new era of web tools and technologies known as Web 2.0 has provided a set of tools and technologies such as social networks, blogs and wikis which facilitate people’s connectivity, knowledge sharing, and comment posting to the world community. This paper presents findings of a research conducted to determine the impact of these tools on the socio- economic development of the individual and the society. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and interviews. The findings show that many participants used web  tools  and  technologies  for  business  purposes,  education  and  governance,  which constitute ways of getting income and skills necessary for the individual and community to function and contribute to the development of society. Web 2.0 was also found to maintain connectivity between family and friends who are separated by a distance.  It can, therefore, be concluded that Web 2.0 tools help in the development process and, hence, play a role in the reduction of poverty.

Keywords: Web 1.0, Web 2.0, blogs, wikis, Google hangout, World Wide Web.     

Proceedings of The 1st COTUL Scientific Conference Held On 25th – 28th November 2014