Ask The Readers: Do You Do Social Networking?

December 19, 2007 Ask The Readers

If you believe all the studies and reports, social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook are changing the way we use the internet and how we socialize. I know so many people who are signed up to these sites and it is actually a bit perturbing to me to see some of the stuff they write and the pictures they put up on their pages. Another problem I have is how they dilute the definition of a friend. Everybody from casual acquittances and former school mates to work colleagues and friends of friends now become part of your “inner circle.” In case you haven’t guessed by now, I don’t have accounts on these sites :) However, I am curious what the state of play is with all my readers because engaging in social networking sites is (arguably) not the most productive or constructive of pastimes. Please spare a minute to share your thoughts and experiences on this subject. What sites are you signed up to? How much time do you spend on them? What benefits do you get from them? Leave a comment!

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There are currently 5 responses to this post

Bags says:
December 19, 2007 at 09:28PM

I think it’s kind of cute that you don’t have a MySpace or Facebook account, yet you have a blog with Reddit, Digg and Technorati tags.

Social media may be a time waster for many people, but for many others, it’s a way to keep in touch with people you don’t see on a regular basis, keep up to date on current events, and stay on top of changes being made to the internet. The internet is having more and more of an effect on our lives every day. If you refuse to participate in the advance, you’ll soon be left behind. Let me know when you get your Facebook account, cause I know you’ll cave eventually, it’s inevitable.

Mani says:
December 19, 2007 at 10:12PM

I agree with you somewhat regarding MySpace – in my opinion it will be taken over by FaceBook. I have visited and joined several of the most popular socializing sites (as listed in the above comment) and a good preponderance of these sites aren’t lewd or authored by sycophants and idiots.

James says:
December 20, 2007 at 07:53PM

I think my problem is that all I have seen is the crappy, stereotypical side of these sites (the immature people obsessing over their friends count and putting up highly inappropriate pictures of their drunken behavior, for instance). There is obviously a use for a site like Facebook, I’m not disputing that and I’m seriously considering using it as a way of networking with fellow (productivity) bloggers and readers. However I still need to hear a clear-cut, constructive approach to using it that doesn’t ultimately descend into pointless poking of people and hours spent catching up on irrelevant comments and profile updates.

Bags, I would regard sites like Digg and Reddit to be in quite a different niche (though admittedly part of the Web2.0 trend). In fact I subscribe to the Digg feed as it simultaneously provides interesting bits of information and news updates. I struggle to see how not having a facebook account is leaving me in the dust of the internet’s advance on our lives though…

Bags says:
December 20, 2007 at 10:10PM

I agree that Digg and Reddit are in a different category, but still… social media.

Now, let me give my biased opinion of Facebook. I love it. I’ve had an account for a few years now. I have a lot of friends, from people I knew in grade school to college roommates, and even coworkers. I love being able to contact people on a whim (especially when I don’t have their phone numbers), know when important birthdays are, find people with similar interests and even run across interesting internet media. Really, it’s just a great way to network.

If you don’t want to be someone’s friend, you don’t have to accept/request them as your friend. If you don’t want to see their drunken pictures, don’t look at them. On Facebook, you will find what you are looking for.

Diane says:
December 22, 2007 at 11:36PM

Facebook certainly can be a time-waster, but for me it is a great way to stay in touch with all sorts of people outside of my immediate family and close friends.

I have a few fun things on my profile, but keep the stuff on my page pertinent to what I think people I know should know about – interesting posts, what I’m reading & watching, what I’m thinking about, etc.

I check in as part of my morning organization time, then again at the end of the day (and, truthfully, I should cut out the morning check-in, which does tend to lead to time-wasting)

Bags says:
December 19, 2007 at 09:28PM
I think it’s kind of cute that you don’t have a MySpace or Facebook account, yet you have a blog with Reddit, Digg and Technorati tags.

Social media may be a time waster for many people, but for many others, it’s a way to keep in touch with people you don’t see on a regular basis, keep up to date on current events, and stay on top of changes being made to the internet. The internet is having more and more of an effect on our lives every day. If you refuse to participate in the advance, you’ll soon be left behind. Let me know when you get your Facebook account, cause I know you’ll cave eventually, it’s inevitable.
Mani says:
December 19, 2007 at 10:12PM
I agree with you somewhat regarding MySpace – in my opinion it will be taken over by FaceBook. I have visited and joined several of the most popular socializing sites (as listed in the above comment) and a good preponderance of these sites aren’t lewd or authored by sycophants and idiots.
James says:
December 20, 2007 at 07:53PM
I think my problem is that all I have seen is the crappy, stereotypical side of these sites (the immature people obsessing over their friends count and putting up highly inappropriate pictures of their drunken behavior, for instance). There is obviously a use for a site like Facebook, I’m not disputing that and I’m seriously considering using it as a way of networking with fellow (productivity) bloggers and readers. However I still need to hear a clear-cut, constructive approach to using it that doesn’t ultimately descend into pointless poking of people and hours spent catching up on irrelevant comments and profile updates.

Bags, I would regard sites like Digg and Reddit to be in quite a different niche (though admittedly part of the Web2.0 trend). In fact I subscribe to the Digg feed as it simultaneously provides interesting bits of information and news updates. I struggle to see how not having a facebook account is leaving me in the dust of the internet’s advance on our lives though…
Bags says:
December 20, 2007 at 10:10PM
I agree that Digg and Reddit are in a different category, but still… social media.

Now, let me give my biased opinion of Facebook. I love it. I’ve had an account for a few years now. I have a lot of friends, from people I knew in grade school to college roommates, and even coworkers. I love being able to contact people on a whim (especially when I don’t have their phone numbers), know when important birthdays are, find people with similar interests and even run across interesting internet media. Really, it’s just a great way to network.

If you don’t want to be someone’s friend, you don’t have to accept/request them as your friend. If you don’t want to see their drunken pictures, don’t look at them. On Facebook, you will find what you are looking for.
Diane says:
December 22, 2007 at 11:36PM
Facebook certainly can be a time-waster, but for me it is a great way to stay in touch with all sorts of people outside of my immediate family and close friends.

I have a few fun things on my profile, but keep the stuff on my page pertinent to what I think people I know should know about – interesting posts, what I’m reading & watching, what I’m thinking about, etc.

I check in as part of my morning organization time, then again at the end of the day (and, truthfully, I should cut out the morning check-in, which does tend to lead to time-wasting)

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