The one problem with LinkedIn, that I see, is people don’t seem to keep it updated, or don’t frequent it as much as they do other networking sites. LinkedIn has to do something that will make its site more attractive to users so they are more inclined to keep it updated. They also need to drop the monthly fee for the advanced features. I would never pay for it because, as I said, it is pretty much a rolodex.

As for Facebook or MySpace, I would never use them. I have a strong suspicion of posting so much personal information on the internet; information, by the way, that is VERY difficult to completely get rid of once it is in your profile. All it will take is for Facebook to get acquired by an entity that is less ethical about how they use your information.

Also, it is well known that prospective employers peruse social networking sites specifically to see how you live your life, what kind of person you are, and who you associate with. Using sites like Facebook for professional reasons would require you to be very cognitive of the content you, and your friends, are placing on your profile; whereas LinkedIn, by default, requires you to almost have to intentionally post information you wouldn’t want your employee to see.

Here is a blog entry about one guy’s adventure while trying to completely delete his Facebook profile:

http://stevenma...acebook_account

buyer beware.

Meanwhile I was interested to see this little app that lets you view your LinkedIn contacts while in FB. LinkedIn Contacts http://www.face...p?id=5894318459

Meanwhile, I’d also like the ability to pick and choose which types of apps my ‘friends’ can expose me too. If I see another frickin gold star or fake cocktail again it will be too soon.

The other problem with– Facebook, it is closed — meaning a password is required from the application side that has to go through an external process.

Adding the meeting networking to the API mix — not sure if it is going to be a draw– either for developers or users.

That said– I am very impressed with Facebook and keep trying to figure a way to make it do more for my business efforts.

Regina Thomas
QiSoftware.com

I also wonder about the longevity of FB given that it sounds like there is a generation gap. When I was MZ’s age, I thought the friends I had would last forever. But the social graph changes. Many of the friends fall away and new ones are made. Most importantly, the friends move all over the world, get married and have children. After that, no one seems to have time anymore. As the FB generation gets older they will have less time to spend on Facebook. Traffic will decrease unless they can continue to bring in the younger generation. How do they do that if FB tries to mature with its current core audience? Its going to be very interesting to watch this evolve. I am not willing to be on anyone yet.

Facebook for friends
LinkedIn for business contacts

These aren’t the reasons for being on Facebook, they are just the options to list a user’s romantic relationship status.

I tend to have two worlds that I keep reasonably separate – personal and professional. There is, of course, some overlap, but for the most part, my professional relationships are different to my personal ones. I keep this principle in…

There’s like a million sites out there. And people are still talking so much about them… I started using facebook in 04, so it’s getting quite old for me. and interesting i know at least 10 people who’ve stopped using it. Dang. And I keep getting Hi5 invites and “tags”. Just don’t know when all this facebook social networking talk will cool down.