I finally joined Facebook the other day after Leila sent me a direct invitation. I know I could’ve joined it years ago, but it never seemed necessary. It turns out that a lot of my other friends are already there, so I added them all. Then I added a couple photos. Then I surfed to see who else was one there. Then I sat there looking at the screen and wondering what to do next.
See, I don’t totally get Facebook. I don’t quite understand the appeal. Friendster, MySpace, LinkedIn, and blog-like sites like Tumblr — yep, don’t really get those either.
It’s not that I don’t get the Web2.0 phenomenon. Social networking sites can be great. A few months ago I started using Flickr for more than just cameraphone photos and love it. Same with Twitter, which I see as a fun way to read “mini-blogs” of what people are up to and what their random thoughts are. Wikipedia, del.icio.us, YouTube, and blogging in general — these are all things I get.
I think the sites I don’t understand are the ones that try to do a little bit of everything. On Facebook, I can blog, post photos, post status updates, and send messages (as well as do many other things I’m sure). But why? I already have my own blog, I already post photos on Flickr, I already post status on Twitter. Each of those sites has one specific function that it does really, really well. I don’t mind using individual sites for individual things when they’re done right. And consolidation? Well, that’s what my blog does. It pulls everything together. I don’t need another place to do that.
There are so many “social networking” and “new media” sites out there today, and more pop up every time I turn around. I’m not a teenager anymore, and maybe I just can’t keep up with these durn newfangled web thing-a-ma-jigs. Yet it seems to me that there are a hundred sites all trying to do the same thing. I can’t possibly be expected to join all of them (and I know no one actually expects me to join them all), but as someone who is interested in the web and the many things available online, I feel like I have to keep up with everything — or at least understand it!
Anyway. I am now on Facebook. Do with that what you will.
I’ve been using LinkedIn for a few months now. What I like about it is the way you can ask your network (and others) questions. I think it is usually better than asking online at a random website. Sure, I don’t know all these people, or even most of them, but someone I know does.
Welcome to Facebook. You don’t show up when I search for you. You should turn on that function (if it is a function).
I like Facebook because it allows me to keep with up folks all over the place, some friends, some people I went to school, etc… People argue, if you weren’t friends with them why do you need to keep up with them? I think it’s interesting maintaining that common connection from school, organization, or common interest. I also like that I can post photos a lot easier than making my own online galleries and can link them anywhere. It’s also handy for checking out interns you’re about to interview.
I’m on Linked in too. I think I found Linked in much cooler when I started thinking about leaving my job again. I actually have a huge network of people that it’s good to keep in touch with on the most basic level for when you are looking for new opportunities.
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I’m hooked on facebook because it has better privacy than myspace, has awesome apps, and updates you on what your network is doing so you don’t have to go check out their pages all the time (not that I don’t love remembering to read your blog
What?!?! You’re not a teenager anymore? How shocking!