In comparing some popular social medias, I looked at facebook, myspace, friendster and linkedin.
All of these social medias provide a social connection, but the connections can be different based on the desired outcome.
Facebook is a social tool that helps you connect with old friends, keep in touch with your current ones and basically socialize. You can show photos of your vacation, your new baby and invite your friends into your world without a phone call. This is a way to connect and stay up to date with those you want to stay connected to. This site opens up your world to the public and shares personal information to all who you choose to be your friend. The functionality of this site is to add friends and groups and have them exposed to your notifications you post.
Myspace goes beyond the social connection. It keeps you connected to current events in the media. It has the feel of a social magazine with the latest in movies, tv and music. Like Facebook, it connects you to friends, but it also keeps you up to date with the hollywood gossip.
It posts the latest in music videos and clips of the latest tv shows and music like twitter, invites followers and comments. To compete with Facebook, Myspace has redesigned its website to look more like facebook but added additional functions to try to keep up with facebook's growing popularity.
Friendster has a different element that the other two media tools, in that as well as connecting finding friends, it posts free classified ads, like craigslist that offers ad categories to choose from. They offer listings that includes 20 different states, that you can find information on buying a car, renting an apartment and finding a babysitter. In searching for friends, it offers different avenues to search from, such as through a particular school or group.
Linkedin is a social network site that is used for business purposes. This is a site connects individuals looking for employment or it can be a tool used to get answers to business questions. This professional network keeps individuals connected in the business world. Individual profiles depict resumes and accomplishments. You stay connected to keep up to date on the current events in your field and your industry. Companies join this site and post profile telling about their firm, employees and career opportunities. Individual connect, to socialize, but also for business purposes. The people you connect with on this site are former colleagues, groups, and potential recruiters.
The common thread in all of these sites is the desire to connect. These sites provide socialization, entertainment, information and business opportunities.
I think it is so interesting the way that myspace is trying to keep up with facebook.
ReplyDeleteMyspace used to be the "it" thing. Everyone was obsessed, they couldn’t get enough of it!
Before we knew it, facebook appeared, and took over! People became facebook obsessed, letting myspace fall to the sidelines.
Its interesting to me that even with the extra media connection and up to date info regarding movies, music, media, etc. myspace is still not as popular as facebook.
This is a prime example of the fast moving pace of the technology world today. It truly amazes me! There is always something new, and by the time we get used to it, there is something else that is better in some way or another.
But if we stop t think, is the newer better technology necessarily better? Of course we should advance, but we are so hungry for something new and fresh, that we don’t stop to appreciate what we already have, before we are moving onto the next!