Social Networking Sites

Social media sites all share the basic foundation or purpose, which is the five C's; communication, collaboration, creativity, community, and convergence. Four specific social networking sites that are very effective in conducting the five C's are Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and LinkedIn. Even though these sites share the same basic purpose, they can be used differently and have different functions that make them unique. 

Facebook has become the biggest and most popular of all the social networking sites. Facebook seems to be the most broad social networking site in regard to its capabilities. This site allows users to share all forms of information. I believe it is the most efficient in using the five C’s. It allows people to privately and publicly message other users and share pictures, videos, thoughts, and ideas. This site has organized peoples’ lives online allowing them to relive some of their favorite times by looking at pictures from the best parties, concerts, restaurants, vacations, and well, everywhere. Facebook is great for keeping in touch with friends, for advertising a business, and for making people aware of upcoming events. It seems to be used primarily for  entertainment and social relationships, however, it is also used for business purposes such as marketing. Facebook is designed in such a way that people can use it for any purpose they desire.

Myspace is quite different from Facebook. A major difference is that there is no news feed. People have to search for their friends instead of getting their posts on the news feed. Myspace seems to be set up like a blog. People create a profile and write comments to each other on one another’s profiles. Myspace has a lot of the same capabilities as Facebook including writing comments, sharing photos, and sharing videos. I think Facebook is more effective in connecting people and allowing them to communicate and collaborate more efficiently. A major use of myspace has been promoting bands. Many bands create profiles on myspace and post their songs allowing people to stream their music. Bands post pictures, videos, comments, and a list of any upcoming shows or events that they are involved in. This is an efficient way of connecting with their audience and fans and keeping them informed on the latest news of shows or album release dates. 

Twitter is much different from both Facebook and Myspace. It does not have the capabilities of the other two social networking sites, but has gained popularity and has attracted many members. Twitter seems very basic in it’s functions. It allows users to post comments or “Tweets” that are available to a user’s followers. These comments may include a person’s thoughts, ideas, likes, dislikes, complaints, or outbursts. Some people may post comments on somethings they want to advertise such as a business or they may write a review on a product they bought. The unique aspect of twitter is the 140 character maximum tweets. This forces users to post very brief messages. I do not believe that Twitter is as effective in allowing people to collaborate, but it is efficient in brief communication and spreading awareness.  

LinkedIn is another growing social networking site that is based on the five C’s. This site is specifically used for business purposes. LinkedIn allows its users to connect with others in a business-like fashion. People can build contacts and message one another about their jobs or other jobs they might want. Users can create private groups, similar to a chat room, and collaborate on anything they choose. LinkedIn also allows people to connect with others who work for the same company as they do. This can be very helpful when trying to network with people in the same field or profession or in collaborating and communicating for work purposes. Employers use LinkedIn for recruiting and for reaching out to possible new employees.