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Social Networks

Like Friendster and LinkedIn before it, I got an invite and signed up for Orkut. I think I’m missing the point on these things though. I tend to sign up, add one or two friends during that initial visit, then forget all about them.

What am I missing? What is it about these sites that has people so excited?

Popularity: 5% [?]

Posted January 28th, 2004 @ 5:45 PM

9 Replies

patrick adds this Comment:

i fail to understand these sites as well. a lot of people actually use them to go out and meet other people, typicially in the general area of their cities/town.

then there are the people that take it to the extreme and say that sites like friendster have helped boost their sex lives. i just can’t fathom the idea of shacking up with strangers over the internet.

January 28th, 2004 at 6:26 pm
Adam adds this Comment:

It’s simple, Alex. You’re not single

January 28th, 2004 at 6:46 pm
Alex adds this Comment:

That’s a fair point, though LinkedIn is supposed to be more of a professional network.

January 28th, 2004 at 6:49 pm
kitta adds this Comment:

I’m single and I don’t understand why these online social networks are popular either.

I’ve been told that there is someone on Friendster posing as me. :o\

January 29th, 2004 at 1:15 am
Geof adds this Comment:

I don’t really see them as being useful, but perhaps someone who needs the connectivity does. :shrug:

January 29th, 2004 at 7:52 am
Dougal Campbell adds this Comment:

I signed up on LinkedIn for the prospect of contacting potential employers in my current job hunt. I haven’t actually done that yet, but it’s a possibility.

Ecademy has a rather extensive community who communicate via “clubs” (forums). You can also use it as a blog.

But, yes, all of these services (with the possible exception of Ecademy) are of limited usefulness unless you get people you know to also sign up, and sign up *their* friends to expand your networks.

That said, would you invite me to Orkut? I’d like to check it out and add it to my Social Networking info.

January 29th, 2004 at 1:03 pm
echeng adds this Comment:

I have found some old friends on friendster, but most the time the site is so slow and … unprofessional looking that it makes me sick to try to use it.

Orkut is fast, and the community features are pretty cool. For example, even though it is only populated with SV nerds right now, I created 6-7 communites and overnight had 3-23 people join each of them. Many of them are in the Bay Area, including some classical musicians that I might get to read music with in the near future.

So there is some potential.

The dating thing is there, too, but it scares me. I mean, the online thing. Not the dating part.

January 30th, 2004 at 1:25 am
alexking.org: Blog adds this Trackback:

Following up on Orkut
A few weeks ago I asked what the big deal is with these social networking sites. Last week, I may have found out.

I’ve posted a few times asking if anyone would like to help with a security audit of Tasks Pro™ but hadn’t found anyone who…

February 11th, 2004 at 12:24 am
Orkut = Hassle | alexking.org adds this Pingback:

[…] lots of folks, I signed up for Friendster and Orkut accounts back in the day. I didn’t really get it then, and I still don’t really get it now - but that’s not the point of this […]

April 18th, 2007 at 11:02 am

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