Web 2.0

"Web 2.0" refers to a second generation of web development and design, that facilitates communication, secure information sharing, interoperability, and collaboration on the World Wide Web. Web 2.0 concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities, hosted services, and applications; such as social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis and blogs

Web 2.0 websites typically include some of the following features/techniques.

Search
the ease of finding information through keyword search which makes the platform valuable.

Links
guide to important pieces of information. The best pages are the most frequently linked to.

Authoring
the ability to create constantly updating content over a platform that is shifted from being the creation of a few to being the constantly updated, interlinked work. In wikis, the content is iterative in the sense that the people undo and redo each other's work. In blogs, content is cumulative in that posts and comments of individuals are accumulated over time.

Tags
categorization of content by creating tags that are simple, one-word descriptions to facilitate searching and avoid rigid, pre-made categories.

Extensions
automation of some of the work and pattern matching by using algorithms e.g. amazon.com recommendations.

Signals
the use of RSS (Really Simple Syndication) technology to notify users with any changes of the content by sending e-mails to them.”



Government 2.0
Web 2.0 initiatives are being employed within the public sector, giving more currency to the term Government 2.0. For instance, Web 2.0 websites such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook have helped in providing a feasible way for citizens to connect with higher government officials, which was otherwise nearly impossible. Direct interaction of higher government authorities with citizens is replacing the age-old 'single-sided communication' with evolved and more public interaction methodologies.

Higher education
Universities are using Web 2.0 in order to reach out and engage with prospective students according to recent reports. Examples of this are: social networking websites – YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Youmeo, Twitter and Flickr
upgrading institutions’ websites in friendly ways (e.g., stand-alone micro-websites with minimal navigation)..
In addition to free social networking websites, schools have contracted with companies that provide many of the same services as MySpace and Facebook, but can integrate with their existing database. Companies such as Harris Connect, iModules, and Publishing Concepts have developed alumni online community software packages that provide schools with a way to communicate to their alumni and allow alumni to communicate with each other in a safe, secure environment.

Public diplomacy
Web 2.0 initiatives have been employed in public diplomacy for the Israeli government. The country is believed to be the first to have its own official blog, MySpace page, YouTube channel, Facebook page and a political blog
. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs started the country's video blog as well as its political blog.

Social Work 2.0
Social work 2.0 represents the use of interactive web technologies in the delivery of social services. The term first appeared in press in 2008. In March, 2009, the New Social Worker Online started a technology blog called Social Work 2.0. Social workers use web 2.0 technologies for clinical practice, community organizing and administrative and policy functions.