Social Networking Sites

Below are my impressions of four popular social networking sites:

Linkedin:

The site is a professional take on social networking. Clearly, it is "career" focused. Along the top, the tabs are labeled "jobs, companies, news, contacts, etc." In terms of interface, the site has a simple classic format (black, grey, and white). The actual content is divided in a resume-style format (summary, experience, education, etc). Overall, I think the site is very clean and easy to read. It let's employees and employers find pertinent information as efficient as possible.

Facebook:

One thing that strikes me about Facebook once I sign in is the vast number of users who visit Facebook everyday. Friend updates are endless. The new timeline interface is a neat way to display content. Facebook is trying to stay new and fresh, and I believe timeline is an innovative step in the right direction. The addition of media (photos, videos, etc.) right in the newsfeed makes it easy to read. There are also many games that can be played through Facebook which is a nice addition to waste time. Compared to the other sites, Facebook seems overwhelmingly complicated, which may deter some first-time users. There are also some privacy issues (sometimes I feel like I'm being stalked/I feel like a stalker) when on Facebook. Overall, I think this is the most comprehensive social networking site there is.

Twitter:

Twitter focuses on a simple interface with simple content. When you sign in, you simply see a scrolling list of tweets. There are no pictures, no games, just tweets and links. Overall, the simple interface is effective for what Twitter is trying to accomplish. I believe that Twitter is perfect for those who don't have time to blog or constantly update Facebook (this is why it is popular among celebrities and athletes).

Myspace:

Although it started out being more like Facebook, Myspace has evolved into a social networking site with an emphasis on music. In this way, it can differentiate itself from the social networking giant. When you sign on, there is a scrolling column of news feeds, but also a column on the right where you can play music. The site is suited for artists, musicians, and audiophiles.