Online Social Networking
From Baruchnewmedia
What is online social networking? When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social sites. Blogs, wikis, myspace, and facebook are social networking. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small communities. These online community members share common interests in hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.
Do you consider online poker/casino community a social networking place. I believe that many people would agree and disagree but here are some specs. Online programs such as Partygaming and Pokerstars.net allow users to have fun, learn, interact, and socialize with people all over the world. Isn't that considered social networking? On these gambling website programs, users can add people as friends and create a buddylist. Some of these websites even have blogs, events, images and etc. They allow users to contribute their thoughts and their specs about strategies of playing a certain game. Isn't that like a wiki? Dealtoplay.com is a website that allows members to create a detailed profile with their name, photo, birthplace and etc to show how close can a person get to another. They can share their gambling experience and favorite online gambling websites. This website allows you to make friends with people like you would be able to in myspace and facebook.
World Wrestling Entertainment Creates Online Social Network
The World Wrestling Entertainment introduced their own social network called WWE Fan Nation on November 19, 2008 [1]. The WWE thinks that this can be an interesting way for fans to interact with each other. The company also hopes for this new project to improve their website statistics. Fans can create free profiles, where they can upload pictures of their favorite WWE moments and Superstars. They can also chat and communicate with other individuals in the WWE Forum message board. The site features blogs, discussion groups and exclusive access to live blogs during WWE programming, special events and pay-per-view broadcasts. In addition to all these features, fans can personally interact with actual WWE Superstars on their personal pages. The WWE decided to get on this new trend, after seeing how well MySpace and Facebook gained users. The new social network was able to gain more than 200,000 members in their first week. “WWE Universe is the first social networking site specifically designed and developed for the WWE online community” said Brian Kalinowski, General Manager, Digital Media “We are very excited to provide an online destination that WWE fans can call home”.
- http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2008/11/19/world-wresting-entertainment-launches-online-social-network
- http://www.nt2099.com/J-ENT/news/american-entertainment/sports/wwecom-launches-much-anticipated-online-social-network/
- http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/wweuniverse
- http://www.kocosports.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=21025&z=80
is a Celebrity
Twitter is one of the most popular New Media technologies being used today. It’s a three year old application that has become prominent amongst regular users. But Twitter has also succeeded in reaching celebrity status. According to Michael Musto, a veteran entertainment columnist for New York's Village Voice, Twitter “becomes a contest… Fame is not enough. It's about how much fame you have, how many more people you can reach, and whether you're more popular than some other celebrity."
Celebrities such as Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Dave Matthews, Britney Spears, and others use Twitter, and are keeping their followers updated with their lives. Britney Spears has earned major popularity by sharing information about movie dates with her kids and her international shopping trips. Of course, some celebrities are having trouble with the principles of Twitter. Ellen DeGeneres is said to be "iltwitterate" because she asked for followers on her show, instead of earning them through actual participation. So, consider Twitter a way to see the “real” side of the celebrities our society spends plenty of time and money focusing on; a way to get personal info direct from the source [if they so choose to share, that is].
The Circus
Facebook and Myspace are being used by many different groups and organizations for their own unique purposes. A few months ago I went to the UniverSoul Circus, and it just so happened they had a Facebook and Myspace page. The circus tries to connect to their fans/customers and the use of Facebook and Myspace is good for gaining exposure and marketing themselves. The Facebook site has comments from supporting fans, it lists their tour schedules, and has albums of the acts and guests. It's really interesting to see the circus on social networking sites, it really proves that these sites are no longer just for the individual.
