With the fad-ish nature of social networking and online communities, I’m wondering how long people can manage long term, daily usage.
If I had many more of readers than I do, I would probably do this in survey monkey or something. However, I don’t so, I can just do it low – fi.
Here is my question, how long and when were you obsessed with a social networking site or online community?
It’s informal so, please interpret these as you wish and feel free to keep it short.
Linked In – obsessed in July and August 2007 , now only use it occasionally for work
Face Book – still checking multiple times a day for the last two months
MySpace – log in about once a year, usually coinciding with a musician’s record release
Friendster – created a profile around 2004, and never went back
IM – (any, all flavors) still log on daily to AIM, yahoo, msn, google, first starting in 2003, except for 2005 when it was banned in my office.
Second Life – one month in January 2006
Plaxo – never used, it always felt like spam
Usenet – lurked through the 90s, it’s a bit of a blur
IRC – heavy usage in mid-90s until web-based chat killed it.
For your convenience, here are the site you can cut and paste into a comment. But free feel to add any sites I left out.
Linked In –
Face Book –
MySpace –
Friendster –
IM –
Second Life –
Plaxo –
Usenet –
IRC –
Thanks!
Linked In – Put up a page in early 2007, check in every few weeks.
Face Book – OBSESSED since May 2007.
MySpace – A cesspool. Started an account in 2005, and have tried to stay clear since.
Friendster – Introduced me to the social network concept in 2003 or 2004 — lot’s of fun.
IM – Daily since 97, however now only when I’m at work.
Second Life – Looked around for awhile in early 2007.
Plaxo – Nope. Whoops, I’ll be back, gotta check FB…
…
Usenet – For finding mp3 albums in 2002, 2003.
IRC – See Usenet.
Linked In – I get invites from people every few days and so i check in and link to them but feel no real reason to be there other than a vague sense that it might come in handy, and not being there looks weird to colleagues.
Face Book – Hey, I’m not the one taking the Never Ending Movie Poll Ray. But I like it a lot since it does something I like in life — it mixes personal, professional and other dimensions of life in ways that are fun.
MySpace – I’m too old for MySpace. If I put up a page the FBI would think I’m a predator thank you very much. And the less I can contribute to any Rupert Murdoch enterprise the better.
Friendster – Just the other day, out of the blue, an old colleague contacted me on Friendster and asked me for a date, now that we aren’t working together anymore. Then he disappeared. Completely flaked. That about sums it up.
IM – Do it all the time, and this in fact is going to make me go blind
Second Life – I’d like to have a First Life first. With a flesh and blood bf.
Plaxo – Isn’t that a mouthwash?
Usenet – I’m old but not that geeky.
IRC – See above.
I notice that you did not mention a number of other social network sites…
Linked In – never
Face Book – joined a year ago, got swept up by college/grad school friends who all starting inviting me
MySpace – made account, never visit
Friendster – 2004 joiner, i do like the bday reminders
IM – nope
Second Life – nope
Plaxo – hate it! so many requests from “friends”
Usenet – nope
IRC – never
Thanks Mark, Frank and Brian.
What am I missing Mark? I’ll add them to the list.
Linked In – Joined summer 2007, check in every week. I get invites and I send a few, mainly to keep track of where my old co-workers and grad school friends are working.
Facebook – Joined summer 2007. I check every day. I joined after 3rd-party applications were annouced b/c I was curious to see what iLike and other hipper companies were doing. I like it. Will probably keep on it, as lots of Microsofties are on it so it’s an appearance thing.
MySpace – Joined 2007 so that I could be friends with celebrities. I haven’t been back since I joined, though.
Friendster – Joined 2003, b/c everyone else in grad school was on. But I haven’t really returned since then.
IM – 1999 for fun. These days I’m on Windows Live Messenger every day b/c of work
Second Life – Never. And never will. Unless my job forces me to.
Plaxo – Never, though I have received invites
Usenet – No
IRC – Never