SOCIAL NETWORKING AND MEDIA. THE CASE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Nowadays, the Online Social Networks transformed aspects of human life and became increasingly one of the key means of communication through the World Wide Web. At 1.61 billion, the estimated number of users of social networks that are active at least once a month is over one fifth (22.7%) of the world's population. These virtual networks are able to collect statistics and use information about users. At the same time, the wide availability of digital maps in conjunction with the large interest of users for knowledge of spatial information on their activities led to the creation of Geo-Social Networks where users share personal information and geographical position. In this way, users can share geographic information, such as the location in which they are at any given the time, and choose friends, thus creating a "community" with common geographical features.

A very interesting perspective is proposed by the creation of an online social network, in which the academic staff of European universities communicate, exchange information and educational materials, while sharing geographical location and thereby facilitating interaction at any given time. The result of this exchange is the collection of spatial information, allowing users to easily find their contacts in geographical proximity. Education therefore is emerging as a critical aspect of the life and especially her relationship with online social networks.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze this relationship and to examine how the users exchange scientific information. Specifically, it aims to study how online social networks contribute to collaboration and interaction among users, and support intra-curricular activities.

In detail, the first part of the paper analyzes online social networks and particularly the geosocial networks and their use by people in general, while the second part examines their relationship with education and specifically their use on intra- curricular activities. The third part analyzes the exchange of scientific information among users of online social networks and in particular their interaction in education. Finally, the construction of a geosocial network of European universities is proposed, where users would be able to exchange information and share their location.