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Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1682
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 11:10 am: | 
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Top 10 online social networks
For the
Philippine Daily Inquirer
02/21/2009
Top 10 online social networks
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/talkofthetown/view/20090221-190300/T op-10-online-social-networks
1 – Facebook (A fast-growing social networking website, it recently surpassed MySpace in terms of subscribers. In terms of number of visits (1.2 billion in January 2009 alone), this
2 - MySpace
3 - Twitter
4 - Flixster
5 - Linkedin
6 - Tagged
7 - Classmates.com
8 - hi5
9 - Friendster
10 - Orkut
compete.com
1. facebook.com
2. myspace.com
3. twitter.com
4. flixster.com
5. linkedin.com
6. tagged.com
7. classmates.com
8. myyearbook.com
9. livejournal.com
10. imeem.com
11. reunion.com
12. ning.com
13. blackplanet.com
14. bebo.com
15. hi5.com
16. yuku.com
17. cafemom.com
18. friendster.com
19. xanga.com
20. 360.yahoo.com
21. orkut.com
22. urbanchat.com
23. fubar.com
24. asiantown.net
25. tickle.com |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1683
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 01:24 pm: |
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I've spend the last couple of days researching and signing up for the most popular social networks -- most of which are listed above.
I find all of this technology fascinating. The interconnections between software and people is incredible.
Once a year or so I make an effort to catch up on what is new on-line and I have to say this most recent updates are almost as great as any other period. There has been a lot of conversation of web 2.0, which seemed like a lot of hype; but from what I see impact of web 2.0 has not been exaggerated – it defies prediction or even comprehension.
I signed up for or updated all of my accounts on the top 10 social networks above. I consider Facebook to be the best of the breed. It has all of the features (as far as I can tell) of the other top 9. Given all of the features it is very well designed and fairly easily to navigate.
One can easily spend a couple of hours on facebook -- it is actually addictive.
I see that many people use additional software to "pimp" or otherwise enhance the use of social networks. I know folks that take RSS feeds and have twitter automate the generation of "tweets" based upon these feeds. Artificial tweets seem to violate the spirit of Twitter.
I had someone "pimp" MySpace account. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I went from a few hundred "friends" to a few thousand in a matter of days. Basically there was some software that automated the process of generating new friends.
There were some unintended consequences of having my Myspace account pimped: MySpace prevents anyone with over 5,000 friends from doing anything useful with their list. I can't send everyone on my list an email, I can't even search through the names. In addition I get way too much email to read. Most of it goes unread and people get irked because they fell I'm ignoring them...
Like most folks, I'm interested in learning how these social networks can help promote my business. Actually this whole idea of using social networks to promote businesses sort of perverts the idea of “social” networks. The idea is to be “social” and not hit people over the head with your business, let them get to know you learning about your business will come naturally. Of course some network are designed for business network, but most are not.
I’m also a member of BlackPlanet, though that seems mostly to be a site tailored for “hooking up”. I recently had to block unmoderated posts on BlackPlanet because I end up with photos of naked women on my profile page -- some of them quite graphic closeups of… well you know…
I also use Plaxo, Blogger, as well as Ning. Ning if you have not heard of it, allows anyone to create their own “facebook like” web site. I created one sometime ago as a potential replacement for Thumper’s corner: http://blacksocialclub.com. Despite the wealth of new features on Ning, I never transitioned Thumpers corner there, because I still like Thumper’s Corner’s format. It is an administrators nightmare (because of spammers), and lacks the web 2.0 type features, but the Thumper’s corner software handles the basics good enough for now (at least that’s what think, but as always I’m open to suggestions).
The other cool thing is that most of these networks allow you to invite people who are in your address book. For example, Facebook can check your address book’s contact and look for people already on Facebook so that you can invite them to be your friend. You can also invite people who are not already in facebook too but I don’t use this feature because most people I know, family, formerly collegues, etc, I would not want as a facebook friend and the rest probably could care less.
It really is a brave new world, I find it exciting. But the best thing of all, is that you can easily ignore all of this technological innovation by flipping a switch.
If we get the 14 inches of snow they are forecasting tonight; tomorrow I’m going to flip that switch and build a snowman (but I’ll break down and post a photo of frosty on facebook). |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 638
Registered: 02-2008
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 07:03 pm: |
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Troy: I'm off to be-Friend you/AALBC on Facebook right now! |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 639
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 07:07 pm: |
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Hmmm...can't find you/AALBC...how are you listed? |
Libralind2
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 1185
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 01, 2009 - 08:37 pm: |
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Im on:
1. facebook.com
2. myspace.com
3. twitter.com
5. linkedin.com
6. tagged.com
7. classmates.com
12. ning.com
13. blackplanet.com
LiLi |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1684
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 02, 2009 - 09:03 am: |
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FK here is a link to my facebook profile: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=620627049
Out of curiosty I queried facebook for my profile, using AALBC and did not find it. I queired my name and fortunately it came up 2nd out of over 500 results.
Libralind2, how has your participation in the 8 social networks you mentioned enhanced or changed or worsened (smile) your life (serious question).
Also discussion boards like Thumpers' Corner is a social network as well, albeit not nearly as sophisticated as the new generation of such sites.
It is snowing like crazy here, in the big apple. |
Libralind2
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 1187
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 02, 2009 - 09:47 pm: |
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I like it. Its fun meeting new people..
LiLi |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1695
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 06, 2009 - 05:49 am: |
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Libralind2 I'd have to agree. Of the bunch I like Facebook by far.
Myspace is too cluttered/sloppy, and probably in troble long term, twitter is too limited and being abused by bots, linkedin is more professional but not as much fun. Blackplanet seemed optimized for hooking up (cool if that s all you want to do). Classmates is actually pretty good but you have to pay for the best features. Ning has potential but people need to really focus on a niche here -- otheriwse you may as well use Facebook... |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 647
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 06, 2009 - 07:55 am: |
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One thing about ning...
I signed up for a ning-based group that's connected to my favorite snarky black celeb gossip site. I chose a gravatar pic that was a little out there (for my taste, at least) and totally appropriate for that environment.
Then, I was invited to join another ning group, which is more serious and relevant to me professionally as well as personally. The first thing I noticed in the email was that my regular email address was accompanied not by my real name (which is typically the case when I receive email); it was accompanied by my snarky name from the other ning group! I felt outted, lol.
Fortunately, the person who sent me the invite is cool and a friend, and she hadn't even noticed. But then it dawned on me that when I signed up on this new ning group, the crazy gravatar was going to pop up. Sure enough, it did, so I immediately went into Edit Profile and changed it on the new site. (The old grav is still on the old site.)
So the moral of the story is...ning will expose your alter egos if you're not careful, LOL! |
Libralind2
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 1190
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 06, 2009 - 08:22 am: |
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Do NOT get me started on that stupid gravatar..grrrrrrrrr Those folks got issues
LOL
LiLi
Oh and I like facebook best I think as well Troy |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 13562
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 06, 2009 - 12:55 pm: |
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I am just amazed at how the internet is positioning people into the world of virtual reality. Whatever you're looking for, you can find on line from the convenience of your home.
I haven't gotten into FaceBook or MySpace because they are too time-consuming and narcissistic. But I do like YouTube and did sign up with my old high school's web site, where the only friends I have are pals of my children, - which is to say that we all went to the same local high school!
What continues to captivate me are the card games available on line. At last, I've found a Bridge site. So, now, every afternoon I go there and play Bridge with people whom I suspect are retirees like me, because not too many young folks play this game nowadays.
This whole internet phenomenon of cyber activity is fascinating to me because if the trend continues, what does this bode for the future?? |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 648
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 08, 2009 - 12:50 pm: |
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Here's a social network that I hadn't heard of until now: Yuwie.
Here's part of an email I got from a friend this morning:
"To cut to the chase, this particular social networking site pays you to do what you already do (or have done) on facebook and myspace... or rather, it pays you every time your anyone views your pics, blogs, profile... it also pays you to invite friends. It's supposedly a new form of social networking that intends to share the advertising revenue with the people who actually provide the content on the site - its users.
So looks like this could be the next wave of social networking. I guess you can wait for facebook and myspace to catch up, but I'm unemployed so I'm getting in now."
I'm skeptical, but will observe with interest--without signing up. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1701
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 12:17 am: |
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Cynique, some people think too much internet activity is really very bad, and can lead to some very serious mental disorders.
I'll look at Yuwie, though unless they offer featured that are superior to what is already available the will have a hard way to go. It seems the market is pretty much saturated with these networks. Perhaps niche networks are better...
The next network I'm going to check out is called Pixelpipe: http://pixelpipe.com
"Pixelpipe is a content distribution gateway that allows users to publish text and upload photos, video and audio files once through Pixelpipe and have the content distributed across over 60 social networks, photo/video sites and blogs, and other online destinations."
Bascially you publish to Pixelpipe wh will then, in turn, publish to twitter, Myspace, facebook, your blog, etc, etc. |
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