---
title: "Web 2.0 concept, blogs, wiki, social networking"
subject: "Web Technology"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_7/web_technology:web2-blogs-wiki-social"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/web_technology/web2-blogs-wiki-social
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Web 2.0 concept, blogs, wiki, social networking

Web Technology · Chapter 6: Web 2.0

- Asked in: year not given, 8 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/web_technology/web2-blogs-wiki-social
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/web_technology/chapter-6

## Question

What is the concept of web 2.0? Explain web 2.0 tools such as Blogs, Wiki and Social Networking.

## Short answer

Web2.0 is the participatory web where users generate content. Blogs are individual or group-authored posts with comments; wikis allow collaborative editing of pages; social networks connect users via profiles and sharing.

## Answer

#### Concept of Web 2.0
**Web 2.0** is the phase of the Web, popularised by Tim O'Reilly in 2004, in which the Web is a **platform** for participation, sharing and collaboration. Instead of static pages made by a few publishers, users create the content. Main ideas: user-generated content, collective intelligence, rich interactive applications (AJAX), social interaction, open APIs and mashups, tagging, and services that improve as more people use them. It is built on existing technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, AJAX, XML/JSON and RSS.

#### Blogs
A **blog** is a website of posts shown newest first, usually by one author or a small group, with comments from readers.
- Features: posts, categories/tags, comments, archives, permalinks, RSS feed.
- Uses: personal diaries, news, technical tutorials, business updates, opinion and marketing.
- Tools: WordPress, Blogger, Medium.

#### Wiki
A **wiki** is a web application that lets many users add, edit and link pages directly in the browser, often without registration or prior approval. The word comes from the Hawaiian *wiki wiki* ("quick").
- Features: easy editing with simple markup, page history and version control, revert of vandalism, internal links, discussion pages.
- Examples: Wikipedia, Wikitravel, company knowledge bases (Confluence).
- Strength: shared knowledge built by volunteers; weakness: vandalism and accuracy needing moderation.

#### Social networking
A **social network** is a platform where users build profiles, connect with others and share messages, photos and videos.
- Features: profile, friends/followers, news feed, likes, comments, groups, messaging.
- Examples: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X/Twitter.
- Uses: communication, communities, marketing, recruitment.

```text
Web 2.0 tools
  |-- Blog   : one-to-many publishing + comments
  |-- Wiki   : many-to-many editing of shared pages
  |-- Social : people connect and share
```
Together they make the Web a read-write medium.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is the core concept of Web 2.0?
   A. A static read-only web
   B. A replacement for HTML
   C. The Web as a platform for participation, sharing and collaboration
   D. A new network cable standard
   Answer: C. Web 2.0 shifts to user-created content and the Web as a platform. (Key point: Concept)

2. What is a wiki?
   A. A database server
   B. A web application that lets many users add, edit and link pages in the browser
   C. A one-author diary
   D. A private messaging app
   Answer: B. A wiki allows collaborative editing, often with page history. (Key point: Wiki)

3. Which wiki feature allows vandalism to be undone?
   A. Page history and version control with revert
   B. Banner advertisements
   C. Reverse chronological order
   D. Friend lists
   Answer: A. Page history lets editors revert vandalism. (Key point: Wiki feature)

4. Which pairing of tool and model is correct?
   A. Wiki: single author only
   B. Social: one-to-one only
   C. Blog: one-to-many publishing; Wiki: many-to-many editing
   D. Blog: many-to-many editing; Wiki: one-to-many
   Answer: C. The answer's diagram: blogs one-to-many, wikis many-to-many, social networks connect people. (Key point: Tools comparison)

## Related in Web Technology

- [Web 2.0 tools: blogging, social networking](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fweb_technology%3Aweb2-blogging-social-networking) — Web Technology, chapter 6
- [Short note: Impact of social networking and blogs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fweb_technology%3Ashort-note-social-networking-blogs) — Web Technology, chapter 6