Social Networking Wrap-Up

Hey everyone! As this is my last practicum blog post, I figured I'd wrap up a little and discuss all three of my social networking sites in general.

From what I've looked at, it seems like people have more intelligent, noteworthy discussions on both Last.fm and 43 Things than users on Bebo. Perhaps this is because Last.fm and 43 Things are both sites that serve a specific purpose. Last.fm brings together music fans while users of 43 Things are all members who want to participate in the site's goal-setting applications. There is some sort of common ground for users of both of these sites. With Bebo, on the other hand, users are there for various reasons. Bebo offers a wide variety of features, from games to quizzes to photo albums and status updates. Because there are so many different forms of and outlets for expression, I don't think Bebo has the feeling of community that both Last.fm and 43 Things have. I can see why younger teens are interested in Bebo, but I don't think it is used for any serious conversations or social networking in the professional sense.

In terms of identity, Last.fm and 43 Things differ again from Bebo. Users of Bebo have the option to write a detailed profile and provide a profile picture. With this freedom in posting about yourself and the overall feelings of immaturity within the younger users of Bebo, I think more people are apt to lie or give false impressions of themselves. Last.fm and 43 Things function differently in the sense that users are present to share knowledge or interest in music and encourage and support others in the achievement of their goals. They would get no benefit of lying on their pages. Last.fm and 43 Things have smaller profile sections, so the focus is not necessarily on getting to know someone through their individual profiles, but through the topics and discussions they post to.

Lastly, content plays a big role in terms of visibility on all three of the sites. Users who frequently participate in the sites are more visible, but it also helps to be unique in posting as well. For example, on 43 Things, users who have abstract goals draw more attention from other users. In Bebo, profile pictures definitely impact how and who users interact with, especially with the incorporation of the buying/selling of pictures that I've discussed earlier this semester. I've found that users of Last.fm are mainly present for the music library functions, and it seems like interaction with others in discussion forums is a second priority, although it is something that users value about the site.

That's about it...a short summary of what I've discovered this semester. I think I'll probably continue using Last.fm because its accessbile and convenient when I want to listen to music online and am in the mood for something specific. Bebo actually creeps me out, both in terms of the other users and also with the site's features and functions. I'm a goal-setter, but I don't feel the need to share and interact with other users about my life goals on 43 Things. Fun semester project though! I definitely think about social networking sites in different ways than I ever used to.