18 comments

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  Rob Robinson

  11 months ago

  This is a very sophisticated nuance you're distinguishing, Dave, but I agree completely. The value in social network sites <grin> is the credibility of the networks involved. Jane considers interacting with Jack because Jack is a friend of Jill's.
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  Dave Delaney

  11 months ago

  Exactly. Perhaps many of us have in fact been using the term "Social
  Networking" incorrectly all of this time. It begs the question of which
  other terms we may be using wrong. I think part of this is due to the speed
  of the world we live in. Twitter appears and "Micro-blogging" is it's coined
  name, while it's a far cry from blogging, it's the name we have accepted.
  
  As a podcaster the vary term "podcast" has always irked me. It makes the
  consumer think they must have an iPod. The term was coined too quickly, thus
  mass confusion has resulted. I can't tell you how many blank stares I've
  received when explaining that I have a podcast (two of them actually). Thank
  god for Uncle Seth : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpciLIA0Kn4
  
  Are we early adopters too early at adopting titles and terms for our
  passions?
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• 

  fishwreck

  11 months ago

  Irony alert. I believe your use here of "begs the question" would be one of those times.
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  Dave Delaney

  11 months ago

  How so?
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  fishwreck

  11 months ago

  I believe this gives as good an explanation as any other I've seen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question
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  Jett Loe

  11 months ago

  Yep I agree - an important and useful distinction.
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• 

  jmilani

  11 months ago

  (expanding on Twitter)
  
  I appreciate the distinction, but I wonder if it matters. Would SNSs be relevant without those who use them for “social networking?” Aren’t these users the ones who help make SNSs popular by working to expand their networks, often by reaching out to strangers?
  
  I also wonder if the “Social Network Site” label fits something like Twitter. It’s a microblogging site, but its social networking features help it stand out from something like Tumblr. Specifically, the ability to easily follow others seems ideal for those looking to grow their networks by reaching out to strangers. Here’s a thought: since many Twitter connections develop into connections on other sites, perhaps Twitter is a social networking site that serves as a gateway to the “true” social network sites.
  
  But even on sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, a good part of the time is spent making connections. You may be reaching out to someone from your real-life network, but you’re still building your social network. The line gets even more blurred when you add the ability to join groups of people who simply share a common bond (e.g. attended the same school) or a similar interest (e.g. photography). You may know some of the members before joining, but you're unlikely to know all of them.
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• 

  Frank Martin

  11 months ago

  Sigh...first comes the new thing, then the argument about ownership, and then the argument about vocabulary. I think I'll wait a couple of months before declaring the term passe or dead. Meanwhile, it will give the academics something to do while the people in the trenches are networking socially on sites. ;-)
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  Dave Delaney

  11 months ago

  Ha! Nice one Frank. I doubt very much that it is dead, if anything it's
  closer to what we're doing than the aforementioned "podcasting". It's just a
  little cloudy when it comes to understanding who we are communicating with
  and why. Friends and family, or actually networking to make new contacts in
  social networks such as LinkedIn.
  
  Jeremy makes some fine points on this as well. I mean, there are loads of
  friends of mine connected on LinkedIn, however, there are also new people I
  have networked with who I would not consider a friend - yet.
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• 

  fishwreck

  11 months ago

  "since many Twitter connections develop into connections on other sites, perhaps Twitter is a social networking site that serves as a gateway to the “true” social network sites"
  
  That's it exactly.
  
  In everyday conversation, I don't think it matters which term you use, however, when you're talking to a knowledgeable audience or trying to make a distinction, it's very handy to have separate terms.
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• 

  Dave Delaney

  11 months ago

  Yes, you're right. I think he did get it when speaking of Twitter.
  
  You're right about everyday conversations. Most people don't know what the
  hell I'm on about most of the time. LOL!
  
  Cheers.
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• 

  mattbigelow

  11 months ago

  It depends on the site.
  
  I appreciate the distinction, but on reflection I'd say I belong to a few Social Network Sites and a few Social Networking Sites.
  
  I'll definitely watch my words from now on though.
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• 

  Dave Delaney

  11 months ago

  It's a funny topic. As I mentioned the two can be cloudy, like in my
  LinkedIn example in a previous comment.
  
  I agree with you though. Damn, academics making us think. Grrr... :-)
  
  Cheers.
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• 

  Sean McGaughey

  11 months ago

  I find that almost everything related to computers and the Internet is explained in terms of metaphor. It's like this black and white boxes which connect to us have potential that is largely limited by our ability to imagine and explain that potential. I prefer the term "social media" because it seems to encompass the interactions between people and the entertainment/media elements. I have long said that the concept of "friends" on social media sites is a bit of a misnomer. It does imply that we are connecting to other people, but I often refer to people I have met online as my 'imaginary friends' until we have met in person.
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  Dave Delaney

  11 months ago

  Thanks Sean. C.C. Chapman spoke about "f"riends vs. "F"riends on one of his
  episodes of Managing The Gray.
  I assured him that I was his "PH"riend! :-)
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• 

  Todd

  11 months ago

  I'm with you. I've been trying to make a habit of saying "online social networks" but it certainly hasn't been easy.
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  Dave Delaney

  11 months ago

  Cheers Todd. It isn't easy when we all adopt different terms so quickly.
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  Glad Doggett

  11 months ago

  Good points here. I will follow your lead and use SNSs from now on.
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