4 ms·

I don't necessarily agree the article but I'd be interested in hearing opinions on the interesting point the author presents near the end of the article: That s

I don't necessarily agree the article but I'd be interested in hearing opinions on the interesting point the author presents near the end of the article: That social networking sites are like physical social spaces that will rise and fall in popularity.

coolswan 16y ago
As social networks get bigger, you keep adding more and more connections to the point where that set you've created doesn't matter / mean anything anymore.
- glhaynes 16y ago
  You think? I'm more liberal in my friending policy than most (I think - at least that's my perception), but, still, I've met in person >85% of the people I'm friends with on FB. I could see that being true for me regarding something like Twitter, though... there, if something new came along ("SuperTwitter") that replaced it, I'd be able to take the 10% that I really like (the 10% I'd know by name) and follow them on that new network.
nostromo 16y ago
My personal experience is exactly that. My parents, a grandparent, nieces, nephews, coworkers, bosses, college friends, and everyone in between are now in my network. My status updates are now a megaphone to everyone I've ever had any relationship with and more frighteningly, anyone I ever will have a relationship with in the future. This kind of assemblage is perfect for weddings and funerals, and that's it. For daily living, it's just too much. If my Facebook friends all went to a building every day to hang out, I wouldn't go there. And I don't find myself using FB nearly as much now as I once did for this very reason. There's too many things to consider when posting even the simplest thing (will I offend my second aunt, will some future boss not like this political view, what if I run for political office in my 50s and find out I friended someone who ended up doing x, etc., etc.)
- yeahsure 16y ago
  +1 I stop sharing my opinion with my network because of this same problem (I have clients, close relatives, extended family, etc.). What if I post something that a client finds offensive and leads to business problems that otherwise wouldn't have existed? What if I post something serious for my clients and some jackass high-school friend leaves an embarrassing comment on my status? Initially, I had to block the ability for people to tag me in photos because I was being used to spam other people's walls, then I had to block other people from posting on my wall, because they would post "funny" stuff that wasn't good for my business-contacts to see. Finally, I started using lists, but having different "personas" for each list was just too much. As a result, I'm slowly letting my profile fade away.

coolswan 16y ago

As social networks get bigger, you keep adding more and more connections to the point where that set you've created doesn't matter / mean anything anymore.

glhaynes 16y ago
You think? I'm more liberal in my friending policy than most (I think - at least that's my perception), but, still, I've met in person >85% of the people I'm friends with on FB. I could see that being true for me regarding something like Twitter, though... there, if something new came along ("SuperTwitter") that replaced it, I'd be able to take the 10% that I really like (the 10% I'd know by name) and follow them on that new network.

nostromo 16y ago

My personal experience is exactly that. My parents, a grandparent, nieces, nephews, coworkers, bosses, college friends, and everyone in between are now in my network. My status updates are now a megaphone to everyone I've ever had any relationship with and more frighteningly, anyone I ever will have a relationship with in the future. This kind of assemblage is perfect for weddings and funerals, and that's it. For daily living, it's just too much. If my Facebook friends all went to a building every day to hang out, I wouldn't go there. And I don't find myself using FB nearly as much now as I once did for this very reason. There's too many things to consider when posting even the simplest thing (will I offend my second aunt, will some future boss not like this political view, what if I run for political office in my 50s and find out I friended someone who ended up doing x, etc., etc.)

yeahsure 16y ago
+1 I stop sharing my opinion with my network because of this same problem (I have clients, close relatives, extended family, etc.). What if I post something that a client finds offensive and leads to business problems that otherwise wouldn't have existed? What if I post something serious for my clients and some jackass high-school friend leaves an embarrassing comment on my status? Initially, I had to block the ability for people to tag me in photos because I was being used to spam other people's walls, then I had to block other people from posting on my wall, because they would post "funny" stuff that wasn't good for my business-contacts to see. Finally, I started using lists, but having different "personas" for each list was just too much. As a result, I'm slowly letting my profile fade away.