The guest author today is the talented Sue Bride of Blogging Sueblimely. I am sure most of eWritings’ readers already know her – after all we meet in the same “social networks.” For those of you who don’t know her, I strongly encourage you not to stop at this article, but to follow the links to her blog for more blogging knowledge. I think I am not mistaking when I compare this writer with Lorelle of WordPress. Although not even half as popular, Sue is as dedicated and her blogging is as rich in information.
When I report on new social networking applications I often get responses along the lines of “not another one” or “I can’t keep up with it all “. I understand what they mean but I cannot see the situation changing soon because our communication needs are not yet satisfied.
Our busy lifestyles, situations and locations often preclude much of the close real life contact that we used to enjoy and online networks can re-establish or keep this alive. Many join social networks to help them escape from reality too, have a time free of the stresses of the real world. Businesses are joining in to connect with markets that they can no longer reach using traditional methods alone. Bloggers participate as another tool to connect with other bloggers, readers and potential readers.
I have been following the progress of online communication for years. My own first tentative steps began with bulletin boards and chat programs that have long since disappeared. I discovered a world that took me out of the day to day routine of life as a stay at home mom of babies into one that offered me stimulating conversations; it widened my horizons and refuelled my interest in learning. The term web 2.0 had not yet been coined.
The number of computer users soared after this, technology advances offering increasingly advanced applications that could be used by all, rather than just the technologically savvy. What has not changed is the need for online communication. We now regularly maintain online contact with our real life friends and family, business contacts and colleagues as well as establishing contact with new people. Online life has become a part of real life for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Applications are trying to provide for the needs and desires of an increasingly diverse market. The popularity of Facebook shows how great the needs are. Has Facebook got it right? I think it is on the right track and has provided more for a wider range of people than anything else before it, but in its current form it cannot be all things to all people.
More applications are coming along in an effort to attract those who are not satisfied with what is already available, existing applications expand to add more features to maintain their current members. We are seeing more targeted, niche social networks based on interests, hobbies, occupation, family situation and location. As we progress into the era of the ‘semantic web’ I imagine that social media will more accurately match us with our interest areas. I hope this does not lead us to be more insular and cliquey: being able to discover new and different people and subjects is one of the beauties of the web.
As people join multiple social networking sites a new need has arisen: a way of consolidating our activities into a single application so that we can receive or send updates to our various profiles from one place. Services such as FriendFeed, Digsby, Twhirl and Secondbrain are providing some of this functionality already.
I see the stage coming when this sort of aggregation will be integrated more fully into a comprehensive social network or vice versa, cell phone and webcam functionality included. I am sure some of the major players would love to have access to our complete combined profiles, be able to monitor activities and feed us with targeted ads.
I suspect we will be saying “oh no not another one” for a long time to come, as our hunger to communicate will not be satisfied until such “FeedMyFaceSpace” applications become available and we are happy to settle for one nook on the net to call home.
The internet can be a double edge sword. You have tons of great information which can leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused and then you have the ability to connect with people all over the world. I love how social sites in particular connect you with like minded people, positive people.
I agree, Trisha – double edge or not, the Internet’s potential of connecting people will never be surpassed by anything else. The Internet is already “mobile” so telephony is out of the question.
Yes there is one more to the ever growing list.
I think there is no escape from it, everyone wants to be on a social networking site, I dont know why!