Facebook is a complete social networking site. Its surrounded on a “News Feed” that allows the user to see their friends news of the moment. A news feed comprises of status updates, pictures, videos, polls, checked places their friends have been to, and news articles. In one streamlined page, a user can see whats going on with their friends at any particular moment. On a users profile page, you can view pictures, videos, status updates, and even significant lifetime benchmarks (i.e. relationship statuses, vacation trips, birth of a child). Facebook’s direct objective is user-engagement with virtual social interaction. Its a general site comprising of everything unlike other niche social networking sites.
Unlike Facebook, Twitter is a niche social networking site. Twitter only posts “status updates” or “tweets”. Tweets are limited to 140 characters. Though similarly to facebook, it has a home page where one can see friends tweets in a streamlined page. Twitter services those who like microblogging and express their opinions in a short burst. It is essentially the “SMS” of the internet. In my observations of Twitter, it works very effectively on news related events. Sometimes twitter reports on things even before traditional news outlets. More than often when this occurs, news outlets first learned about an incident via Twitter.
MySpace
Myspace, the original “Facebook”, is a social networking site similar to facebook. It features a user profile that allows users to post pictures, status updates, and wall posts. Though, unlike Facebook, it does focus on one area: music. MySpace’s purpose was to connect artists with the public and the publics interest in discovering new music. In this way, MySpace is a niche social networking site. Currently, MySpace is renovating their entire platform that will provide a better streamlined profile and “newsfeeds.” Since its launch in 2003, the company has taken a huge dip in both revenue and influence in the social networking world. Though, I hope the new improvements will swade many facebook users over once again.
CouchSurfing
CouchSurfing is another niche social networking site. I picked this as my last social networking observation because of my interest in it. Its extremely creative in its purpose and very interactive. CouchSurfing isa worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the communities they visit. Couchsurfing is a phrase referring to the practice of moving from one friend’s house to another, sleeping in whatever spare space is available, floor or couch generally staying a few days before moving on to the next house. Users create a profile that describe their interests, where they have traveled, and where they would like to travel. When a user couchsurfes, they can rate their host and recommend other users to a host. Similarily, hosts can rate and refer their couchsurfers. Other mechanism allow security verification. CouchSurfing provides editable travel guides and forums where members may seek travel partners or advice. CouchSurfing’s main focus is social networking and members organize activities such as bar crawls, camping trips, meetings, and sporting events. The site is an incredible innovation for travelers on a low budget or those wanting to meet locals in different areas.
Jimmy G's New Media Blog 