Title: The contribution of virtual social networking to sustainable development: a case study of social-cognitive learning about sustainability via social networking

Authors: Savvas Makridis; Elizabeth-Konstantina Makridi; Dimitris-Metzikof Papadakis

Addresses: Department of Public Relations and Communication, ???? of Ionian Islands, 11 Apollonos Str., Maroussi, P.C. 15124, Attica, Greece. ' Financial Mathematics, Athens University of Economics and Business, 107 Papadiamantopoulou Str., Athens, P.C. 11527, Attica, Greece. ' Mount Allison University, Classical Studies 50 Kimothois Str., Ymittos, P.C. 17237, Attica, Greece

Abstract: Social networks have reshaped knowledge acquisition and dissemination, rendering them seminal for shaping socioeconomic public opinion and environmental trends, and an informal authority with educational capacity, where members may learn mind-sets and behaviours actively or inductively. Our case study examines the extent a social network video can incite members to act on an issue of wide social interest, such as sustainability, indicating that currently it is questionable whether social networks are effectively structured to prompt active societal involvement within internet pluralism, unless modes of participation and learning are guided by socio-cognitive learning models, such as A. Bandura's Theory of Learning.

Keywords: sustainable development; social networking; social-cognitive learning; virtual networking; social-cognitive learning; sustainability; social media; world wide web; networks; knowledge acquisition; knowledge dissemination; socioeconomics; public opinion; environmental trends; informal authority; educational capacity; mind-sets; behaviour; active learning; inductive learning; social interest; active involvement; societal involvement; internet pluralism; participation modes; learning modes; socio-cognitive models; learning models; Albert Bandura; YouTube; online videos; video-sharing; video aggregation; product life-cycles; electronic governance; e-governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2011.046011

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2011 Vol.4 No.4, pp.348 - 360

Received: 10 Sep 2010
Accepted: 15 Jul 2011
Published online: 27 Mar 2012 *

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