When the web was pretty much a static place, the interaction of web users and the Internet was already chaotic and fast, but now we have something we called social network which has been a mantra for a heap of websites and businesses. Social networking on the web is continuing to evolves fast, and we all see how people migrate from one social network to another as if they’re in search for a holy grail. Website owners know that if their websites are static still, and has no social element where users could explore, then their websites are considered to be somewhat outdated. Google and Yahoo know this well enough although their applications are already so socialized, these two companies are still rolling out features to make their applications even more social. Google has added a new social layer to Gmail known as Google Buzz in which Google hopes Gmail could be an even more social web application/service.
The overall trend is clearly shown that the web can become a more exciting place when people get connected virtually; this is why web companies are racing at full speed in adding social elements onto their websites. By now everyone have heard of Myspace and Facebook, and in this post I pretend that Twitter has never existed, because people are also using Twitter for many different social purposes that are not quite the same as in Myspace and Facebook; I bring Myspace and Facebook up since a CEO from Myspace has been fired but he was hired for one reason, and that reason was to stop Myspace from bleeding away its user base. Maybe Mr. Owen Van Natta wasn’t able to make Myspace a more competitive player against Facebook, and that might explain why he is fired from Myspace. It’s interesting to see how Myspace evolves and who might be the next go to guy/girl who could improve Myspace’s social network standing.
Folks, social networking is no longer a unique idea that a kid could whip it up in his/her parents’ garage, but instead it’s an idea that big corporations are trying to figure out of how to mold and shape so more people could flock to their websites and businesses in millions more. There are seminars that grown adults with real business agenda meet up to discuss of how to apply elements of social network to improve their businesses. Social network portals are no longer just the websites that young adults visit for fun, but all types of people are there for all types of purposes. Right after the jump, you can check out the video where Mr. Owen Van Natta and his former boss were happily answered the questions in regard of making Myspace a better social network, and this was a happier time where Mr. Owen Van Natta had just been hired to work for Myspace as a CEO.
http://s.wsj.net/media/swf/microPlayer.swf
Maybe one day when we all look back, we may have to laugh at the idea of social network since it’s pretty much virtual. Making a friend on a social network is very unreliable since our virtual friends could decide not to log onto a social network with the same nickname ever again. It’s not like making a real friend in real life! In the virtual world, we could come up with things that aren’t true and no one would have cared! Sure, virtual fun could affect real life in many ways, and some have been very serious. Also, a popular social network such as Facebook is a good place for advertisers to promote a product since there are millions of people who log onto such a popular online place each day. Will the concept of social network last in general? What you think?
Vinh Nguyen
