My Thoughts About Social Networking

Social Networking Web sites.  What are they all about?  What are people using them for? What could they be using them for? These are some of the questions that occurred to me recently.

It’s hard to believe that one of the first sites, Friendster, was launched in 2002.  That is just nine years ago. MySpace came next in 2003 followed by Facebook in 2004.  Presently, the most popular social web sites worldwide are: Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, Nexopia, Bebo, Tuenti, StudiVZ (the German version of Facebook), XING, Orkut and Wretch.

Speaking for myself, I have been a member of the social web sites MySpace, Facebook and Twitter for the past 3 years.  I joined MySpace as a means of staying in touch with my kids, now in their early 20’s.  With my son, it was an opportunity to share with him his digital electronica music compositions.  In my daughter’s case, she was more the social bee of my two kids, so an opportunity became available to keep up with her pursuits.  Gradually, the writing bug overcame me, so now I have a Google Blogger column as well.

So just what sort of activities are taking place at these sites on a consistent basis?

From my point of view, a substantial majority of the day-in day-out postings tend to fall into one of the following categories:

1.  Blather
Posting like this one:
Gwendolyn --“My boss was riding my ass all day yesterday. The SOB. It’s not my fault that my personal life schedule is sooo stressful and it made me 10 minutes late for work again. Hell, I’m just not a morning person and he needs to get that straight!”
Carneelia -- “Oh, I know how you feel.  You have every right to feel slighted! I hate having to work those damned early shifts too after a good late night time at the Trip & Fall Club. I’ll see you there again tonight right? Lol.”
DoNuthn -- "Stand up 4  your rightz! Go on in tomorrow and tell ‘em U quit!”
(Followed by 29 Likes for DoNuthn’s comment).

2.  Quips and sarcasm
Particularly those related to politicians, our economy, sports & entertainment celebrities, etc.

3.  Gripes and complaints
Plenty of posting remarks about raising children, putting up with parents, paying bills, or contending with the weather.

4.  Food, beverage and dessert fantasies
People sharing their cravings with one another.
Postings like:
Dizzy Lizzy-- “OMG!, I am sooo in the mood for a 12 pound Payday candy bar!”
KallorieQueen --  “Me too! I take my time pullin off all the nuts first, eating them one by one, then chow down on the soft core.  Yummm!” 
(Followed by 7 Like comments).

5.  Mean spirited putdowns
Slams and insults about friends, acquaintances, coworkers, employers and sometimes, neighbors.
Postings like:
You-- “That gurl singer on The X Factor last night had no skillz.  Had to throwup after watchin her."
Barfin Billy --  “U got dat right!”
Witchy Wilma-- “Nuff said.  I hated her 2. And you could play connect-the-dots with her facial acne!”
(Followed by 174 Likes)

Just what could our social web sites REALLY be used for?

Ask yourself a few basic questions:
Since the internet ties the billions of inhabitants of our planet together, wouldn’t you want to be sharing or posting questions, issues and comments with a higher level of content and thought  behind them instead of what you are doing now?

What interests or issues of yours are ones that are truly of worldwide popularity, interest or concern?

Who is your audience and circle of friends now?

Who could they develop to be? What skills or talents do you already possess that might now be shared upon a worldwide platform instead of just social blather with your Friday-after-work beer-drinking buddy?  Are you content and happy with just the yakety-yak, without much thought or purpose?

What about launching  a new business?  Taking the time to develop a  platform for a social cause, charity or for fundamentally educating and enlightening  others?

The internet and our social web sites are still in their infancy.  So are we.  There is much that can be done in terms of what we post, and how we post it.  Egypt and Tunisia recently used the internet and dramatically transformed their own governments and respective nations as well.

A quote about the quality of the things we do comes to mind from the late Steven Jobs:

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Why not take all of it to a much higher and more noble level?


Jeff Dodson
October 6th 2011