10 Social Networks and What They Say About the People Who Use Them
Posted at 8:21 AM Oct 21, 2008
By Bonnie Ruberg
As the Internet-savvy doll will surely have noticed, the Web 2.0 bubble has created so many sites based around user content that deciding which ones to use has become something of a personal statement. These days, you can tell more about an online regular by the websites she has accounts on, than by her profile pics, her status updates, or even the Internet company she keeps. Heck, the image surrounding these sites is even bleeding out into the real world. How many times have you been out with a friend who decides to Twitter in the middle of dinner, or a buddy who snaps shots at parties and shouts, "OMG these are so going on Facebook"? We get it. You use websites. Thanks for sharing.
Here then is a list of 10 sites -- not all of them social networks per se, though they all involve networking aspects -- and what they say about the personalities of the people who use them. Are you signed up at multiple sites? Just combine the personality traits below into some sort of freakish, web-loving amalgam. And remember, your author is a Flickr-whoring, Twitter-addicted, Facebook-visiting Wikipedia reader. She's baring her own squishy, Web 2.0 soul, too.
10. The Facebook user: friendly, addicted, if only slightly obsessive
Using Facebook is pretty normal these days, even for those terrifying dinosaurs known as my older relatives. What does having a Facebook profile say about you? You want to stay in touch with friends and you probably use the site too much. Because who doesn't do both those things?
9. The MySpace user: youthful, music-loving, and kind of creepy
What do you think when someone tells you they still have a MySpace account? Either they're under the age of 18, they really like music, or they're potential Internet pedophile material. Not that I'm stereotyping or anything.
8. The Tribe user: alternative, funky, hanging on for dear life
Tribe.net has been going the way of Friendster, and those who are left on the site are the artsy San Fran locals who can deal with weeks of downtime and the ever-looming possibility that the site could disappear entirely. In my imagination they also all have grizzly, unkempt beards.
7. The Bedpost user: sexual, meticulous, loves pedometers
A site for those who want to catalog their every sexual encounter, Bedpost caters to those who have enough sex to chart. They have to be meticulous (Which positions did you participate in? When? With whom?) and like documenting somewhat random human activities -- like how many steps they take each day.
6. The Twitter user: energetic, manic, easily distracted
Twitters update their followers with mini blog posts as often as every few minutes. That takes energy, but it also makes them a bit frantic. Plus, since they're always looking for something to Twitter, nothing holds their attention too long. Look, a sandwich!
Comments
Nice list you have, but how about plurk.com? digg and stumbleupon? these are social media websites :D
these sites helps you to advertise your product or even advertise other peoples products
Posted 10/22/2008 at 04:24:46 AMMySpace ROCKS! I would be lost without MySpace!
Jiff
Posted 10/22/2008 at 08:57:08 AMwww.internet-privacy.pl.tc
Spot on but you forgot the Stumble group. They're a little bit obsessive.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 09:02:59 AMhttp://www.filthyrichmond.com is teh source
Posted 10/22/2008 at 09:12:27 AMWHAAAT?? Digg users....are morons. Reddit is the one true God! I mean... news networking site.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 09:18:14 AMGreat list. I like the descriptions they are pretty accurate. It would be nice to have a more comprehensive list.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 09:35:33 AMGreat stuff, bedposts just makes me laugh! And I do wonder how so many people can update there Twitter so much! I agree Myspace is only for music, if over the age of 10...
Posted 10/22/2008 at 09:37:16 AMHow did you miss reddit?
My personal preference is www.lonerbook.com.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 09:43:52 AMI like www.IMPnow.com for artists, musicians and writers. Not a lot of people on it yet but it's friendly.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 10:14:44 AMVery hard selection. but u have forgot to put one site which rocks in india. its www.surfurls.com
Posted 10/22/2008 at 10:25:23 AMone site u ve forgotten. www.surfurls.com . not more viewers ,but gud .
Posted 10/22/2008 at 10:28:00 AMWhat? No love for Fark?
Posted 10/22/2008 at 10:31:06 AMNo LinkedIn??? What about us highly obsessive compulsive professionals out there?!?
Posted 10/22/2008 at 11:02:44 AMI like www.hu-du-yu.com. Silly but fun.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 11:13:14 AMTribe has users?
What best describes someone who uses all of the above websites? I think I know a few of those people...
Posted 10/22/2008 at 11:17:38 AMHate to be the one to clue you in, but there are plenty of girls on Digg. We don't like being excluded from the populus like that - it makes us sad.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 11:48:15 AMhow about new breed of community site http://rivals4ever.com ? I am sure users of these sites can be called real passionate and die hard
Posted 10/22/2008 at 12:14:57 PMhow about new breed of community site http://rivals4ever.com ? I am sure users of these sites can be called real passionate and die hard
Posted 10/22/2008 at 12:15:08 PMWhat about the Google powered Orkut? http://www.orkut.com
Well, If you're using orkut, then, you're Either Indian or Brazilian.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 01:26:31 PMGood list but missing Fark and no Deviant Art, though fark is more of a community and commentary group who actually get together for parties in each city.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 01:43:04 PMi second the deviantart, also livejournal is pretty big for social networking in addition to blogs.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 03:10:10 PMHi Doll. I feel you are bigoted and a sexist, only the female version. Get outside and see the world. You'll find it won't fit your stereotypes very well.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 06:19:29 PMOMG you forgot (insert obscure social networking site here) I hate you!!!!!!11111!!!11one11111!!!!
Seriously people take the article for what it is, a light hearted, moderately comical poke at social networking sites and what they say about you.
Posted 10/22/2008 at 08:56:07 PMWhat about YouTube? The Community there is intense.
Posted 10/23/2008 at 12:09:31 AMFriendster!!!
Posted 10/23/2008 at 03:23:55 AMYou missed one of the most distinct groups out there; the CraigsList user. Do-it-yourself types, that love finding a bargain so much they're actually proud of having found a second-hand Sonicare toothbrush (for "a steal!") Possibly deals in stolen goods, and is definitely into BBWs and kinky leather sex.
Posted 10/23/2008 at 03:10:49 PMI disagree about MYSPACE. If you establish a nice list of family and trusted friends then it can be the best tool ever. Remember, MYSPACE has first mover advantage and their is still over 250 MILLION! profiles on there.
Each of the social media sites would have the same kind of bad publicity as the myspace if they had SO many people using them.
The more people you get the more chance of douche bags ruining it.
Posted 10/23/2008 at 10:33:47 PMlast.fm
Posted 10/29/2008 at 01:37:00 PMI agree with Ben. Also do not forget, facebook used to only be for those involved academically, therefore a lot of people went to myspace and have never switched over.
Posted 12/12/2008 at 03:17:46 PMAgain SF Weekly! Im unamused with this list...I can think of a dozen million more sites for every walk of life and this is your list and critique? Wow! Talk about coming up short
Posted 12/15/2008 at 02:06:37 PMA lot of these sites are not social networking sites. I mean, come on Wikipedia? What about sites like Going.com?
Posted 01/01/2009 at 02:26:17 PMDoll,
Posted 01/11/2009 at 05:53:10 PMYou are heartless!
Smiles.. just kidding.
Years ago I was learning about the computer and internet when I discovered a site that would let you start a profile and post decent sized digital images so I signed up. Almost immediately I forgot my password and about the site till one day I read an article that said MySpace was the in place to be for music and social networking.
No kidding I thought remembering I had a profile there too.
Well the profile has changed but I am still there for different reasons than you suggest. Good intentioned reasons I assure you.
Anyways, I recently discovered your blog and like what I hear. Good luck!
I like forums the best, a good forum is where real interaction happens
Posted 02/22/2009 at 05:35:08 PMпродам Форд-Фокус 2008 года за 200 тр. торг возможет. срочно!!!
Posted 03/07/2009 at 03:44:29 PM+7 960 200 9209
why are you writing in wingdigs
Posted 04/07/2009 at 01:17:59 PMYou forgot to mention The Bebo User.
Posted 09/21/2009 at 09:56:21 AMEnough said.
Personally, I love both my facebook and myspace... :D I use them both on a regular basis.
Posted 11/14/2009 at 01:46:42 PMFacebook for my "right now" friends around the dorms.
And Myspace for staying in touch with people back at home that don't have a facebook. (FB is not that popular where I come from)
I can't believe there is a bedpost site. How creepy and intriguing at the same time!
Posted 01/19/2010 at 03:52:00 PM