The point of this social networking thing

Social networking sites obviously have been a bit of a thread in the last couple of entries. I came across an interesting post today at Internet Evolution. It's from Andrew Keen, who has been analyzing the Net for a long time (relatively, anyway).

Keen is questioning the worth of facebook. Microsoft paid Mark Zuckerberg -- who's about the age of most of these bloggers -- $15 billion to own just a little bit of the site. Part of Keen's rant seems to be a bit jealous, and, heck, who's not? Don't you wish you would've come up with an idea like facebook or myspace?

But another major point of his blog is the importance of the Internet today. After the dot-com bust, it started reshaping as a way for people to connect. Gannett, and by extension, The Times, have bought into this. And there obviously is something to say about the popularity of Web relationships. Before the paper's Web site redesign, people would write anonymous comments on articles for hours on end. Literally. That is still happeneing to an extent, but users still are getting used to it.

So Keen says social networking sites basically have to figure out how to really make money off of advertising without alienating the folks who need to connect. The money-making part is something newspapers including this one deal with constantly. How do yout think all these sites will progress?

MySpace - good for the kids?

Just like hip hop, I’ve always felt that MySpace is often misunderstood, usually by people who know very little about it.

YES, I have a MySpace page and I love using it as another way to reconnect with some of my friends.

And YES, on the flip side, I’ve often said MySpace is the “ruination of relationships” – married or otherwise. But I don’t blame MySpace for that.
I blame dumb people (usually guys) or naïve people (usually girls) who use MySpace for those purposes. (I’m ONLY joking with the gender inferences!)

Anyway, I do tend to think kids and MySpace are about as bad a combination as kids and liquor, gambling or anything else bad.
And Lord knows there’s plenty of stories out there to back my claim.

However, I ran across this interesting MSNBC story that suggests otherwise. In fact, it actually said a recent survey proved quite the opposite: That MySpace can actually be good for teenagers. Well, shy teenagers, to be more specific.

I’m not sure if I’m buying it 100 percent, but what do you think? Do you think MySpace can be good for the kids? Or should it be just for adults?
Do YOU MySpace? Or are you one of those folks who think social networking is just weird, period?

MySpace vs Facebook

I think my MySpace days have come to an end.

When I first started a MySpace page about 2 years ago I was addicted. I was on there all the time, looking for old friends and keeping up with friends from home. It was very useful because instead of spending my days on the phone, I could check their MySpace page and see what they're up to or send them a quick note.

But now, my inbox is flooded with promotional messages, concert notices and notes from folks who use MySpace as a dating service. Here's an example of one I got just yesterday:

Give me the chance to starting a revolution with changing you life and mines with you. We can be like a puzzzle with a million of pieces that i'm putting together to bring a picture of us holding hands, is it possible i get to kno u better?

Huh?

A few months ago I joined Facebook and I love it. It's a lot more exclusive in the way that only people listed as your friends can look at your page or leave comments. It seems a lot simpler too. I haven't gotten any mail I didn't want and it's got a lot of cute, extra features.

Now I just have to talk some other folks that are on MySpace to switch to Facebook so I can have all of my friends in one place.

Any thoughts? Anyone out there prefer MySpace? Is there anyone else like me that made the switch?