Social Networking

Social networking sites are not only used by college students, but by many other, seemingly unnoticed users and for many other purposes. Most noticeably are those who use LinkedIn. This is a social networking site where users post their resumes and other relevant information in hopes of getting hired by a company, getting noticed in a certain industry, or simply networking with these companies by meeting various people.

In certain companies social networking sites are used to both spread knowledge and effectively intertwine resources. For example, Nissan recently implemented a social networking site modeled off IBM's version. The CEO started the program so employees could more easily disseminate information in the company. The result is a full-fledged site where ideas about product development are shared, employees make connections to others through ordinary blogs and postings, and employees are getting around normal, otherwise bureaucratic standards. This was discussed in a Business Week article by Kenji Hall.

Society, in many ways, has become more closely knit through social networking sites. Before anti-technology folks harangue me for this, let me explain. On Facebook, I can request to friend someone on each continent with a click. If he or she accepts my request, I can see information that I might find useful. He might find information on my profile useful, such as where I like to hang out in New York. He might relay this to his friends, who are planning a trip to New York. In this case there is an almost instant connection and usefulness that might not be possible in other media.

The dark side to social networking is often a focus. This is Internet stalking, child predators, and the like. While sites like Facebook and MySpace try to eradicate this through privacy tools, it occurs nonetheless. The sites are getting better at monitoring and preventing this, however. MySpace turned over the names and profiles of convicted sex offenders not too long ago and Facebook has introduced detailed, specific privacy settings to its users.

I think we are already seeing how social networking is going to evolve. Recently, Facebook updated its layout to better match Twitter, which has gained much popularity. Facebook hopes the up-to-the-second updates lure in those who are loyal Twitterers. This is how most social networking sites will evolve. Users want immediate updates of their friends' statuses, even if they are about what they had for breakfast and where their dogs threw up.