Mar

12

On Networking

Filed Under Babbling 

This morning as I settled down to read my news feeds and play a quick game or two on Facebook, I started to think about all of the social networking sites and their evolution…

First off, there was Friendster back in what, 2002 or so? I used to have an account there. Heck, I still do. I just don’t know my password to get in, and I think it’s tied to an old e-mail account of mine that I’ve long since given up on. So all in all, its gone to me. I remember that it was very basic and fairly easy to navigate, and didn’t have many graphics to it. And uploading pictures? Hah. You only put your own on it.

Then sites like HotorNot.com and other rating sites added social networking. I’m on that one too, and I don’t care to find my rating or my picture. There were also dating sites that gave you the social networking.

There were blog-ring sites before WordPress and Blogger became “standards.” There was LiveJournal, DeadJournal, Xanga, Open Diary, and tons more that were based on some free to distribute variation of these codes.

And the explosion hit: MySpace, Facebook, BeBo, LinkedIn… There was a social networking site for everything. DogSpace and MyCatSpace and probably dozens of other pet specific ones.

Enough. Seriously, enough.

How many different sites and profiles do we need? I have MySpace, Facebook, and LiveJournal that I read regularly. I also have had Xanga and DeadJournal accounts in the past… Its all too much, too many passwords, too many places to read, and just too much more meaningless drivel to worry about.

In the first place, multiple social networking sites don’t help you have all of your friends in one place like they’d like you to for the sole reason that not everyone is going to be on one site: some people will be on one, some on another. And it reminds me of another issue with the internet…

Instant messengers.

Back when things first started out online, it seems that AOL had the jump on things with their AOL Instant Messenger. I don’t know the exact chronology because UseNet and other BBS chat types were there first, but from there too you also have ICQ, Yahoo IM, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, and a few other protocols that many folks probably have no clue about. And if you don’t like how those programs work? Well, you can always use Pidgin (or GAIM as it used to be called) or Trillian. And with those, you don’t need 20 different messengers, just the 20 different screennames.

The fact of the matter is, we have to have different user names and different passwords to put everything all into one or two different places, and then something different for people on a different one, and we all want what’s comfortable and convenient for us. Heck, I know I didn’t make it any easier by requiring a registration for this site, but that’s just how I wanted it. And I’d imagine that’s why my syndication feed on LJ gets more comments than my actual site.

We try to bring everyone together, but we just can’t all do it in one place at one time. That’s why I have to have three IM screennames for three different messengers and a MySpace and Facebook account: just to keep in touch. I remember when it was much easier than that and you could just pick up a phone and call someone to be connected, and not have to wonder if they’re going to check their MySpace or Facebook first. Or for that matter, what e-mail account is the fastest way to reach them. This is all the product of our “networking.”

I wonder if we really are networked as much as we think we are. We’ve diluted that meaning…

Comments

One Response to “On Networking”

  1. Karen Ziemkowksi on March 13th, 2008 1:08 am

    You’ve brought up some really good points.

    On my Adium chat program, I currently use 2 AIM names, and one each of Yahoo, MSN, Google, and Livejournal. It really is ridiculous.

    I hate having so many networking sites - I’d be happy with Facebook alone - but I feel that I need MySpace not only to keep in touch with people who don’t Facebook, but to advertise my business! It really is enough!

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    Thanks for stopping by, folks! My name is Adam J. Cohen, and I'm a guitarist/songwriter in Champaign, IL, recently relocated from Orlando, FL where I'm a UCF grad. Here, you'll find vignettes on my life, setlists and show reviews, and whatever else crosses my mind. Enjoy!