Do you have first-hand knowledge of social networking sites?

[MichaelCorfman]

If you believe the pundits (and I do) then we've just seen the tip of the iceberg with respect to the role of social networking on the web.

Personally, I've been involved with LinkedIn for quite a while, and just signed up on facebook a few weeks ago. But I'm impressed with where I think this technology can go, and I think we are going to see a lot of creativity unleashed as a critical mass of users develops. If you don't know what I am talking about, then I encourage you to go to the facebook developers page (developers.facebook.com) and watch the video of the f8 keynote address. Heck, even if you do know what I'm talking about, listen to the video to get Mark Zuckerberg's vision straight from the horses mouth.

So, this week's question is about your level of first-hand knowledge of some of the existing social networking sites. Which sites have you personally joined?

Michael

[CityGuard]

I'm fairly new to the world of social networking websites. I joined facebook mid-way through November. A contact wished me happy birthday since he'd seen some photos of Rebecca at a birthday party for someone named Steve and figured I was the Steve. Turns out it was a different Steve, but I just had to go check out those photos -- but wasn't able to without an account. So I caved in and finally signed up. I've become a bit of a facebook junkie since then, checking requests and notifications first thing in the morning alongside PMs here and regular email.

It's actually come in handy thus far -- I've found out some interesting updates about friends I haven't kept in touch with as much as I'd like to be able to, and I've been able to get back in touch with folks I didn't have up to date contact info about (some high school and college buddies). With so many online gaming folks on facebook it also been pretty fun to see where relationships overlap.

I also joined MySpace at the same time, but I haven't done much there and don't expect to in the future.

I joined another social networking site probably a half year ago (commoncircle.net) at the invitation of a college friend / former co-worker, but that site never got off the ground. It is oriented toward a social justice / environmental protection community. The system doesn't offer much of any value aside from connecting with people, and with the number of partipants being in the 100s (even after at least six months) it is kind of laughable. I still occassionally open and read the emails they send, but don't visit the site. I would consider joining anothe niche social networking site like this if it were done in a way that could generate at least some bare minimum of participation required in order to provide some value (for example if idealist.org did more with individual profiles rather than simply organization profiles).

I might eventually cave in and join LinkedIn as well, although I don't expect that I'd visit it that routinely.

But, over the foreseeable horizen I'm all about facebook.

[thepokerkeep]

I post articles on Squidoo from time to time.
Also have a blog that I post on when time permits.
Facebook is great. I formed a poker group there too.
I write/publish on other social networks as well. The links are one way and relevant.

[aksana]

I'm also new to social networking, several months ago I was invited to join to LinkedIn, I only signed up here and that's all.

[kaus]

I absoloutely love facebook. Just met up with a friend who I havent seen since I lived with her and her family. It is amazing who you will find

[GamTrak]

I joined facebook awhile back after getting an invite from an affiliate manager.

Being that I have had an online gambling forum for over 6 years I can see how social networking online can be a huge benefit in several ways. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

[mojo]

The only one I'm familiar with is myspace because my son had one. It didn't interest me. However, I'll try facebook. There must be something to it if alot of you see potential there. I always love new exciting things.

I'll be joining up at the GPWA one soon to get my feet wet.

[matted]

I'm a nerd... I pretend to resist at first and then break down to find out more about it.

Even before all these threads, I had links to my social networking profiles in my signature... see below and feel free to give me an add...

I will add - I dont like being actively marketed to on these sites. It's gotten better, but I used to have seemingly every 21 year old from California invite me to watch them on their webcam. SPAM is/was rampant and there are still floating ethics questions about using personal information for marketing purposes (which I dont mind, as long as personal details are not shared with the advertisers, only used to determine which ads I see)

[bonustreak]

I have A facebook and I am finding ways to market with it and there are many ways I have found I do not have a network set up and I do not use it for looking for people, I infact want it strictly for industry friends/family, I don't want to be searched out by the wrong folks if you know what I mean....lol I do have another set up just for business purposes it is not finished as of yet but it is in place to market with and for forum members to join and get the lastest promos we have etc. This is the new "viral" marketing and I am excited about it!!

Cheers!

[greek39]

I dont like being actively marketed to on these sites.

Must agree Matted I also do not partake in facebook, myspace, or anything else similar. Perhaps I am overly paranoid but I think I may have a good reason to be so.

Better to be safe than sorry I guess, so my answer is none.

greek39