The number of venues for social-networking online are increasing monthly it seems. Here is a list I found on an old friend’s blog of the most popular sites that exist.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on using these sites wisely. What sites do you use? How do we balance our online networking/relationships with our live relationships? How does our involvement in these sites/networks affect our lives positively or negatively? How can we or ought we use these sites/networking tools to the glory of God?
Flickr - Photosharing.
Facebook - friends and events and stuff
Zaadz - World changer social networking site.
YouTube - Videoblogging and media hosting.
Meetup - Events.
MySpace - News Corps social software behemoth.
Upcoming - Events, shows, and gigs.
43Things - Goals.
43People - Contacts.
43Places - Travel.
Del.icio.us - Links and social bookmarking.
Photoblogger - Name says it all. Peeps with photoblogs.
Tribe.net Profile - One of the oldest and best. Community of burners.
LinkedIn - Resumes and professional networking.
Yahoo!360 - Yahoo’s take on social software.
Last.FM - Music and audio.
NowPublic - News and citizen journalism.
Lightstalkers - Professional photographers.
Tumblr - blogging
Twitter - mini blogging and social IM’ing
Zooomr - photosharing and stock photography
Comments 5
I’m a Flickr (love it), Facebook (addicting), YouTube (endless supply of humor) user. I’ve wanted to get into Delicious but havn’t had the opportunity - what do you think about it? I’ve also gotten into smaller sites like Imeem, LibraryThing, Widgetbox and Referer.org - all great for my blog.
Posted 13 May 2007 at 10:44 pm ¶there is a strong tendency to christianize these mediums through cyberprosleyetizing, Godtalk, and xn subculture. I have to deliberately fight the tendency to christianize by blog. Though, these mediums should not control our message, they should be dyanamic opportunities to interact with others who do not see the world as we see it.
Just today I forced myself to respond to two vitrol comments on my blog by focusing on thier points, not the way they made them. Irenic and intelligent discussion over culture, art, philosophy, literature, flim, justice must be a part of our participation in these things.
I also need to ask more questions, and offer less answers.
Posted 14 May 2007 at 8:09 pm ¶I think the biggest thing to keep in mind is that these are exactly what they’re called - “social networking” sites. It’s all about building friendships with people. I have some online friends (or dotcomrades) who are just as close to me as local friends. In some ways - Jason you are a virtual friendship. Without things like blogs and instant messengers we may not have remained as close at such a distance from each other.
Just as the internet can help to sustain relationships, it is playing a very legitimate roll in initiating them. The thing about social networking sites is that they tend to revolve around common interests. So, to answer your question, I think we can use them to Glorify God by valuing the people we meet on them as those made in God’s image.
I agree with Jonathan 100% because I think his comment about on Christianizing things is applicable to everything outside the body of Christ.
You should add http://virb.com to your list. It kicks the crap out of MySpace.
Posted 17 May 2007 at 11:21 am ¶Great thoughts guys! I agree that these sites can be helpful means to connect even more with the world around us and as Matt said, to connect with real-people that we may not otherwise have the opportunity to connect with.
One thing I find myself wondering though is how to maintain and deepen these connections when the possibility for them is so vast. It may just be me but I tend to struggle with feeling that I am not doing a good job of connecting with people when there are so many, not to mention already struggling to connect with those who are local.
I’d love your thoughts on being a good steward of time with internet social-networking.
Posted 17 May 2007 at 2:29 pm ¶Ahh, Jason you’re just a softy relationship guy–get over it!
Posted 18 May 2007 at 6:24 am ¶Post a Comment