March 21, 2009

Social Networking!

Wow, I can’t believe that there are so many social networking sites out there now. It’s hard to keep up. Some I like and some I just don’t feel comfortable with.

Let’s see…in my research I naturally found the most popular network site which is Facebook (
www.Facebook.com) which gives you the opportunity to share and stay connected with friends and making new friends. Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school and region to connect and interact with others. Once you become a member you can add friends, send messages and upgrade your personal profile to notify friends about yourself. I personally don’t like this site for some reason. Maybe, it’s because I don’t care if someone is eating an apple right now or just got through brushing their teeth with sensitive toothpaste! I get many emails inviting me to join their Facebook and half these people, I don’t even know.

Then I found Eons (
www.Eons.com) Eons is a social networking site for baby boomers. Once you become an Eons member, you’ll find like-minded people on the site and the Eons team is eager to answer questions, respond to comments and help you get started quickly. This site like all others, allow you to express yourself and share your life and your passions and interests, yes your photos and videos and play games to build your brain and challenge others. I think this site is for the real elderly that is just learning the computer world. A good place to start if you are new to the computer.

I also found another site called LinkedIn (
www.LinkedIn.com) which is a business-oriented social networking site. It is mainly used for professional networking. When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional expertise and accomplishments. You can then invite trusted contacts to join and connect to you and I emphasize the word “trusted”. Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to a vast number of qualified professionals and experts. I personally think this site can be very useful if you are still employed or looking for employment.

I feel the older generation like myself who are past 60 use and enjoy the benefits of new technology. I find a lot of my friends get frustrated easily trying to learn how to navigate through our increasingly digital world. If it requires more than one click…….they will not step up to the challenge and will not make the effort. They are satisfied with just a simple email back and forth and will stop at that. They also refuse to read a manual to find out how something works or do some troubleshooting! Perhaps, just lazy or simply lack of interest????

Well, there are some high tech stuff that simply does not interest me either like an MP3 Player or Texting Messages. But I love my computer and graphics and writing and I do spend hours and hours per day on my computer which I am self taught because I had to learn it in order to survive in the world for my jobs that I had.

Just when I thought I was caught up with all the new digital devices…..up pops Twitter which is a
social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 bytes in length. Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. Do you believe I learned about this by watching the Dr. Phil Show.

How many devices do we need? So, what is your favorite high tech electronical digital device?

I’m happy with my Blogs and feel more comfortable with it than Facebook or any of the above listed sites. This electronical world is getting a tad complicated with way too many gadgets.

Don’t fret, I manage to get my exercise in during the day and clean my house and I still cook! Hey, I’m Italian….we all cook and partake of the vino!

13 comments:

  1. I'm like you and like my blogs. That is enough to keep me busy and interactive. I don't like facebook and haven't tried any others, but I do like keeping a journal or so. That's what I'll continue to do.

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  2. i keep my journal here on blogger, & that's it! had a hard time learning my way around here, not interested in trying to navigate others, lol. i hear lots about facebook & my space...but not for me.
    have a good wkend.
    huggies...

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  3. Hi Rose. Great post. At one time, I belonged to way too many social networks, lol.

    I'm happy to report I am back down to just Blogger, Weight Watchers and Myspace. I do not visit myspace often, and only keep it because my daughters are on it. There are many options available and you offered some good points what is enticing about some of the websites.

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  4. The only electronical device I've been enjoying lately is my heating pad.

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  5. I have never heard of some of those, however I do belong to facebook and myspace because of my kids.

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  6. i love social networking and use a couple of the sites under 'nom de plumes' so that students cant find me and rat me out for the stuff i do in my private life.


    you are right about the status updates...some people i have in my networks go a little overboard with them.

    xxalainaxx

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  7. I like blogging for more serious writing, and Facebook is a nice supplement for putting up an article, or a video. I'm on Myspace too, but don't do much with that one.

    I don't really want anymore computer stuff added to what I already have, so I'm avoiding Twitter. Of course, that's what I said about Facebook, too. :)

    Hugs, Beth

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  8. i like facebook,mainly because its a good way to keep in touch with friends,you choose what applications you use,and yes there is a lot of crap,but it can be fun.take care rose,love mort xxx

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  9. Hey Rose, being off the chart age wise, I find it hard to keep up with the gadgets. Plus I can't use them. I agree, how many do we need?
    Thanks for explaining 'twitter' Sherry was just asking yesterday. Maybe I will get involved with Facebook, but am not for sure. AOL said it was full of OLD people. LOL Therefore on the dying side of digital technology? ha!
    I think some of the social networking sites would be good.
    Jack

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  10. Hi Rose,
    Funny you should mention Twitter. Just went to a seminar this past week at the convention center here in LV. There was a class on one of the up coming networking sites. Twitter. Until then, I had never heard of it. It is the new way of networking. I'll Tweet to that. LOL...Hugs, Corinne

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  11. Originally myspace was the place to be but it got boring because they changed the formatting of everything and suddenly I was very disconnected from my friends and then we all moved to facebook. I like facebook because it keeps me in touch with people who dont blog and that is about 80% of the people I know. I like blogger because I have some blogger friends and I am opinionated and its a forum for me I guess. But like my mother in law would never dream of either of these things, I just email her back and forth and I do have a few frineds who will not do facebook etc and just email, and thats fine, very ok with me. I love my mp3 player, it is a nice way to keep all your music with you and you are not carting around all kinds of CD's and tapes. I bet you would like it!!!!!! Plus you dont have to buy a whole CD for one song, you just buy one song. Girl you need an ipod!

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  12. I have a Facebook site, a You Tube Site and a My Space site, but I prefer Facebook of the three. I like my journal site the best. It's not as complicated.

    Jimmy

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  13. Besides Blogger, Facebook is my favorite. I do not like having a tons of friends just to look important as some people do. I have 45 and most are family it a good way to to keep up to date at least for me. I also have a myspace and twitter account which I rarely use.

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