Social media websites
Social networking websites use text, graphics, animation and video to engage users.
Users can interact with each other in various ways such as chatting, playing online games, sharing posts that may include their thoughts and/or pictures.
| Feature | Explanation |
| Simple user interface | User interfaces will avoid unnecessary elements and will almost be invisible to the user. The interface should be consistent and predictable. Good interfaces will be simple, consistent and purposeful. |
| Prominent search functionality | Searching for friends and contacts should be easy to achieve and available throughout the site. Auto-complete features should provide suggestions and search results should be weighted to consider geographical location and user profile. |
| Personalisation | Social media websites should provide the ability to build a user profile. The profiles serve a dual purpose: one, they allow friends or contacts to identify members from their profiles; and two, the data entered by the members is used by Social Networking Sites to connect with other members who have a similar background. |
| Notifications and real time updates | Most social networking sites have chat clients and members can chat with each other in real time, providing the ability to respond to material published by other members. |
| Upload content and interactivity | Social Networking Sites allow members to upload text, photographs, audio and video files. The order that posts are arranged is decided by an algorithm. All content can be published in real time. |
| Members can send messages to each other. Social networking sites also send e-mail alerts whenever a member is tagged in a third party post. This enables members to learn when a fellow member has connected to them. |
| Feature | Simple user interface |
|---|---|
| Explanation | User interfaces will avoid unnecessary elements and will almost be invisible to the user. The interface should be consistent and predictable. Good interfaces will be simple, consistent and purposeful. |
| Feature | Prominent search functionality |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Searching for friends and contacts should be easy to achieve and available throughout the site. Auto-complete features should provide suggestions and search results should be weighted to consider geographical location and user profile. |
| Feature | Personalisation |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Social media websites should provide the ability to build a user profile. The profiles serve a dual purpose: one, they allow friends or contacts to identify members from their profiles; and two, the data entered by the members is used by Social Networking Sites to connect with other members who have a similar background. |
| Feature | Notifications and real time updates |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Most social networking sites have chat clients and members can chat with each other in real time, providing the ability to respond to material published by other members. |
| Feature | Upload content and interactivity |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Social Networking Sites allow members to upload text, photographs, audio and video files. The order that posts are arranged is decided by an algorithm. All content can be published in real time. |
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Members can send messages to each other. Social networking sites also send e-mail alerts whenever a member is tagged in a third party post. This enables members to learn when a fellow member has connected to them. |
Gaming websites
Gaming websites also use text, graphics, animations and videos to engage users (with game walkthroughs, trailers and reviews for example), enabling them to interact through forums and communities based around gameplay.
User profiles will also rank users against one another, with social media integration offering further interactivity.
| Feature | Explanation |
| Walkthroughs | Walkthroughs should provide users with demonstrations or tours of levels, tasks and features of the game. Walkthroughs will usually include footage of in game play. |
| Social media integration | Online game platforms will provide the ability to share clips, screenshots and reviews to social media accounts. |
| Leaderboards | The most popular competitive game will rank players globally. These leaderboards are often displayed on game sites. |
| User profiles | Game websites should provide the ability to build a user profile. Like social media however this will generally include rankings, statistics and achievements. |
| Forums and communities | Communities will be based around individual games or topics. Users will share or discuss opinions and modifications regarding games. Communities are controlled by administrators. |
| Trailers and game press | Future releases will be showcased with videos, screenshots and pre-release reviews. Press will include interviews with developers and competitions and giveaways. |
| Feature | Walkthroughs |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Walkthroughs should provide users with demonstrations or tours of levels, tasks and features of the game. Walkthroughs will usually include footage of in game play. |
| Feature | Social media integration |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Online game platforms will provide the ability to share clips, screenshots and reviews to social media accounts. |
| Feature | Leaderboards |
|---|---|
| Explanation | The most popular competitive game will rank players globally. These leaderboards are often displayed on game sites. |
| Feature | User profiles |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Game websites should provide the ability to build a user profile. Like social media however this will generally include rankings, statistics and achievements. |
| Feature | Forums and communities |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Communities will be based around individual games or topics. Users will share or discuss opinions and modifications regarding games. Communities are controlled by administrators. |
| Feature | Trailers and game press |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Future releases will be showcased with videos, screenshots and pre-release reviews. Press will include interviews with developers and competitions and giveaways. |