The irony of Social Networking

I've had lots of emails from you fans asking for my opinions about Social Networking. So here are my humble thoughts.

My Space: I know a girl who has 13,026 MySpace friends that she's never met (it's a true story). So, how are they even friends? The irony of social networking is that for many, it actually prevents them from being social. Quite a few studies have now come out with these findings. Online social networks can actually act as a barrier for us so that we no longer have to go through the trials and tribulations of communicating with people face-to-face. The impact of this isn't very immediate - but will it hinder the social development of younger generations to come? This remains to be seen. The other irony is that, while we do less actual socialising and in turn become more socially isolated, we actually know more than ever about everyone else's lives. We know what they did over the weekend (often quite graphically in someone's random camera snaps); we know when they break up with their boyfriend and we even know what they ate for breakfast. But rather than finding these things out by having a casual chat, we find out by having a sort of voyeuristic view into their lives.

So while I don't think we should rely on social networks as a communicative tool, I do think they are now instrumental in the world of marketing and advertising. Online social networks are a manifestation of the old adage, "It's not what you know, it's WHO you know." They are an intensely interesting study into the effects of word-of-mouth promotion; into personal and corporate branding; and into the importance of business networking. They've also spawned a new breed of fame where anyone and everyone can be something to someone as long as their online presence is strong enough.

MySpace as a social network fell down because it was too easy to spread promotional messages and create expansive networks of people, and it became a hot-bed for spammers as a result. Facebook relies more on a trust relationship between people who have a real-life relationship and therefore are willing to have a mutually beneficial system - a system that will only survive if they stay within the bounds of non-spammy communication.

Niche social networks that bring together people with specific interests are a different kettle of fish again - while general social networks are based around taking your relationships with people you already know out of the real world and into the online world, niche networks can be used in the opposite way. They can be used to meet new people online; people who will be good business contacts, or people who share a passion with you.

Despite my doubts about MySpace and Facebook as long-term social tools, I do use both networks to keep in touch with friends, family, and fans - in particular to keep all my fans up to date with the latest Winston news via my fan pages.

That's it from me for now. Peace out, Winston.