Week 7: Social Networking

I had a look around at the examples this week, but I didn't explore in too much detail because social networking is already very familiar to me. Although my generation is the one before the Bebo generation, I think most of the people I know have either a Bebo or a Facebook page. There are some people who refuse to get one, much like how there are always people who refused to get a telephone or a television.

I guess they are probably the ultimate examples of websites that collect in depth marketing information on their users, but the service they provide in exchange is very valuable. Imagine if you actually received a bill each month for your social networking site ... like receiving a bill for listing in the white pages or having a landline.

Having a library on a social networking site is a great idea. You can advertise events, have an instant database of interested community members, and receive direct comments about the service being provided. You can run polls on any subject you want (not just on clothing or hairstyle choices, like you normally see on Bebo).

As for my favourite social networking site, I think Bebo has the edge over Facebook for me. Only because Facebook has all those annoying apps that people constantly want you to sign up for.

I really liked the way the Hennepin County Library facebook page had a widget to search their catalogue. Very cool. Perhaps the best thing about libraries on social networking sites is it shows that they are making an effort to engage with the new generation. Social Networking is pretty significant in people's lives when they start calling an entire generation 'the Bebo generation'.