| There has always been social networking of one kind or another; however, it has taken on a whole new meaning in recent years. When it comes to the internet, social networking refers to interacting with groups of people and, by extension, the groups of people that they interact with. Using the best social networking sites can help you to connect with more people, and do it in a more enjoyable way.
If the 1960s through the 1980s were the Space Age, and the 1990s through the 2000s were the Information Age, then the 2010s will like be known as the Social Networking Age, that's how revolutionary it is. People are able to do all sorts of things on networking sites, and they can let their contacts know what they are doing as well, and vice-versa.
Here are some of the best social networking sites:
Myspace was the first really popular networking site, but it is continuing to lose ground to Facebook. There are still a lot of Myspace users, and it offers a different environment than other social sites. For whatever reason, it seems as though musicians are attracted to it in large numbers. However, other people use it, too, so it's worth checking out.
Facebook is more than a website for a lot of people; it's a way of life. Now, that may sound odd, but casual observation shows that it's true. Sure, there were the tech-savvy early adopters who were quick to jump on board as soon as they heard there was a new social website for them to try. Over time, Facebook has become the site that everybody and their mother belongs to, and not just their mother, but also their kids, cousins, old friends, old co-workers, distant family and acquaintances from all over the world. There are tons of games with a social element to them, a built-in chat feature, and the ability to quickly share thoughts, photos, videos and just about anything else a person can think of.
LinkedIn caters more to business people, and is all about networking in the truest sense of the word. If you're looking for a site where you can raise virtual farm critters and plant virtual crops, then LinkedIn isn't for you. However, if you are looking to connect with professionals and would like to get yourself in front of more professionals, then LinkedIn is a must.
Twitter uses the micro-blogging model to drive its site. People can share posts and follow one another, but the catch is that all posts have to be 140 characters or less. This appeals to people who are in a hurry because they don't have to spend much time on any single post, and that's a big part of Twitter's charm.
While these are some of the best social networking sites, there are plenty more out there. Remember that you will only get as much out of each site as you put into it, so be sure to participate if you want to see results. |