As a web-head, I feel a sense of duty when it comes to trying out new things online. And, so it was with social networking sites. I've signed up with (in this order)
Linked-In,
Shelfari,
Facebook,
GoodReads,
Twitter, and a few others that I no longer remember.
Years ago, I signed up for Linked-In, which didn't do much for me until I filled out my
entire profile then I received job offers (plus I had a sense of accomplishment and tidiness that comes with a profile that is 100% complete). It remains a purely business site in my mind. A place to find employees, consultants and the like. Not really a chatty place, although I have joined a group to see if that expands my experience on Linkedin.
A friend of mine invited me to Shelfari, which I enjoy because I love to read. Also, it reminded me of books I had read and totally forgotten. Its value for me is looking at other participant's shelves who have a number of the same books I've read(so I can assume we like similar writing/story lines) and find books I might enjoy reading. Shelfari is hooked up with Amazon so I can buy anything I find right way. And, they just updated their interface adding all sorts of new features.
However, Shelfari does what all other social networks seem to do - offer a mirror to look at ourselves and compare ourselves to others. Who's read the most books? Written the most reviews? Their bio displays on the home page for all to see. Be more involved the site shouts and you'll see your face here too.
StuffWhitePeopleLike does a nice job of discussing the funkiness of constantly comparing ourselves to others - by what we read, where we've traveled, our favorite quotes or restaurants.
Then, I joined Facebook, mostly because my brother is an avid user and I missed him and thought I should see what all the buzz is about. I did find a long-lost college roommate on Facebook, so that seemed to make the whole experience more worthwhile, but who has time to constantly update "what I'm doing now" and write clever notes on other people's "walls"?? I loaded a "where have you travelled" widget onto my page and found out that I've travelled 14% of the world's landmass. I was then asked if I wanted to compare my travel with my friends. Maybe I should go to Russia so I can "win" the travel competition. Seriously - do people what to know where I've travelled? See my vacation slides?? Maybe they do!! I'll post my Italian vacation website on facebook today - only a little obnoxious, right?
And, then with open-ended sites, such as Facebook, without a common topic, such as Shelfari, the question comes to - what should I share and who should see it? How much is too much? And, will I get too comfortable in this new space and blurt out something I wish my co-workers would never know, like what happen to our friend
Emily Gould. However, she did get a cover photo and huge story in the
NY Times magazine for putting her life and soul on the web.
MediaShift does a great job of discussing what the term friend now means online. It's changed. So, who should you accept as a friend? Everyone? Only a select few (snob!)?
I signed up for GoodReads as other coworkers had invited me, but I don't maintain a presence there. This is one of the key issues with social networking - how many networks can you authentically maintain? I mean really. After spending 8-10hrs on a computer each day for work (and, no I don't jump into social networks for diversion - I'm dull, I just work) who wants to spend more time burning out the o' retinas?
And, finally, Twitter. Ok. I really don't get Twitter. Are people so in need of validation that they post their random thoughts online in hopes of someone following them? Can you say stalker? After an exasperated email exchange with a friend of mine, she explained "There are a dozen good side apps that sit on your desktop and ping when someone posts--it's a pleasant distraction sometimes.
twhirl is the desktop app, it's cool and without it, I don't think twitter makes much sense.
Twitter should be eternally grateful for twhirl.brightkite sits on your iPhone and allows you to take pictures of stuff and post through email. Took me a couple of weeks to figure out I could love this app."
Off to preen on my social networks!
