Internet:Social Networking

Introduction
The ability for anyone surfing the internet to make a comment or express publicly an opinion and the capability to comment on other peoples opinions has changed the way the Internet interacts with businesses. It effectively gives voice to ordinary people without filtering.

Instant Messaging (IM)
Specialised IM
 * Microsoft (MSN Live Messenger)
 * Yahoo
 * MySpace
 * Facebook
 * Google


 * U-Stream ( http://www.ustream.tv/ ) Live streaming video
 * 3D : IMVU (http://www.imvu.com/)
 * Consolidation
 * meebo (2009)


 * Microbloggers
 * Twitter
 * identi.ca Arranges the blogs into groups (by status.net). Users subscribe to groups rather than followers (as in twitter). All content added under Creative Commons
 * Freelish Similar to twitter (by status.net) All content added under Creative Commons.

Twitter

 * Flashy ways to display a twitter feed ( http://www.cats-pyjamas.net/2011/06/twitterwalls-the-writings-on-the-wall/ )
 * Example http://visibletweets.com/#query=%23vmvwiki&animation=1
 * Is Twitter a Waste of Time? - Infographic

Advantages/Disadvantages of social networking
Listed below are some of the advantages of using social networking sites for all age groups.


 * 1) Building and maintaining friendship with people who has never met before.
 * 2) Advising people or solving problems mentioned in any of the forums
 * 3) Sending personal messages within seconds to the person sitting at distant places
 * 4) Creating and sharing online collages with friends and family via social sites
 * 5) Creating blogs to track the record of good or bad moments
 * 6) Sharing the same blogs with relatives and friends by providing links to them
 * 7) Companies use these social sites for publicity and promotion.
 * 8) News channels update the public by providing recent and up-to-date information about events.

The social networking sites are open to all and therefore, it can put you in danger if used incorrectly. Few of the disadvantages are listed below of social networking sites. These are:


 * 1) Sometimes, sharing personal information with others can put you at risk
 * 2) Availability of private information can lead to stolen identity
 * 3) Stalkers and sexual offenders can trouble you by using the information available on your profile.
 * 4) Fake advertisements can invite unwanted viruses and spywares to your computer
 * 5) Professional companies can refer your online profile while judging you at the time of the interview.

Pros and Cons of social networking (Khan, 2010) -Jordanastan 21:05, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Privacy and Social Networking
Divide your "viewers" up


 * 1) Inner circle: "Have full-blown access,and see your page as you would see it."
 * 2) Paparazzi: acquaintances and friends who haven't made the Inner Circle. Can see more than parents!!
 * 3) Co-worker:
 * 4) Guilty by Association:
 * 5) Guilty by Association: Could share personal details.
 * 6) Zero trust. This group can't access old status updates, messages from friends, or many of your photo albums

Separating Work, Friends, and Family on Facebook Isn't Easy(Willyard, 2011, June)

Social Media Strategy for business
Eight common mistakes made when incorporating (or considering to) Social media into their marketing strategy.
 * Mistake 1: Pretend you can do without it.
 * Facebook in 2009 had 300 million users, with largest demographic in 35-49 age group.
 * Mistake 2: Play down the costs.
 * Requires commitment to keep posting
 * Mistake 3: Act like you own the conversation
 * Social media is a conversation, and conversations
 * Mistake 4: Fear empowering your employees
 * They already talk to the public face-to -face!
 * Mistake 5: Assume you have little to learn
 * Mistake 6: Take negative feedback personally
 * Mistake 7: Fret about return on investment
 * You can look at number of followers, how many times a blog is visited
 * Mistake 8: Underestimate the power of seemingly small efforts

Eight Ways to Ruin Your Social-Media Strategy (Taylor, 2009)

Designing for Social Networking
The Real Life Social Network (Adams, 2010)

Social Media for businesses
Social media is changing businesses. Facebook is helping business grow. Facebook is looking at alternative ways to change the web, a better platform for consumers to spend their time online, buy consulting their friends. Most of facebook's critical content is out of reach of Google's search engine. And the more time they spend on facebook, the less time they are spending looking at Google's ads, which is why Google has launched Google Plus as a come back to facebook and other rival social networks. With facebook bumping into Apples business of selling apps which is very popular of facebook's apps such as FarmVille are proving to be in demand by the market and the site is becoming increasingly powerful over time. Facebook is always watching the mobile market as it is the most popular mobile app on both Google's Android phones as well as Apple's iPhone. The companies themselves have become rivals, however also dependant on each other because facebook's influence is very strong in society. Facebook is even edging into Amazon's territory as it is now offering movies for rent in the US with facebook credits. (Yang,2011) Facebook has become more powerful over socail neworks by it's unquie design.

The video link below will show you how businesses are effected by social

Yang, L. (2011). Tech titans - The battle for web dominance is being fought from four quarters. Dominion Post (idom pg7) August 30, 2011

Social Networking History
Social Networking has been around a very long time and has changed a lot, this website shows a timeline from the very beginning of social networking up until now. It shows the earlier versions of social networks including BBS (Bulletin Board System).

From 1960, it shows the rise and fall of many popular social networks right up to 2012. Since this site is American, it shows mainly American social networks and may not include some major social networks from other countries.

As the timeline shows, social networking is no longer limited to computers, most cellphones now have social networking applications you can chat and update people about yourself on the go.

Currently the top 5 most popular social networks are (in order):  Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Myspace Google Plus+ 

Infographics
How the world uses social networks