Flickr: Are other people's tags useful?

The short answer is: YES. The longer answer can be found in the latest issue of Online Information Review, hot off of the presses this morning:

Angus, E., Thelwall, M., Stuart, D. (2008). General patterns of tag usage among university groups in Flickr. Online Information Review, 32(1), 89-101.

If, however, you (or your institution) are not a subscriber to Online Information Review, I have made a preprint available for your enjoyment HERE (Emerald has impressively liberal author publishing rights).