Special issue on knowledge management of web social media

Web social media includes computer-mediated tools that allow people to create, share or exchange information, ideas, pictures, and videos in virtual communities and networks. Web social media is defined as “a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user generated content” [1]. Furthermore, web social media depends on mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals and communities share, co-create, discuss, and modify user generated contents. They introduce substantial and pervasive changes to communication between businesses, organizations, communities, and individuals [2]. Web social media presents challenging knowledge management issues at all levels – for individuals, organisations, communities, businesses and governments. Knowledge management is the process of capturing, developing, sharing, and effectively using organisational knowledge. Web social media is different from traditional or industrial media in many ways, including quality, reach, frequency, usability, immediacy, and permanence. Such characteristics have made knowledge management on web social media more challenging than ever before. Breakthroughs need to be made on many technological bottlenecks, such as