Using social networking sites
Social networking sites connect a community of people with shared interests and activities. These services provide a collection of various ways for users to interact, such as chat, messaging, email, video, voice chat, file sharing, blogging, discussion groups and more.
Social networking sites can be an easy way for you to stay connected with your friends, family and coworkers. These sites could be used to publicize your events or to share information. Since these sites are user-friendly, it makes it fun and easy to explore how you engage others.
Facebook connects you with the people around you. This site allows you to upload photos, publish notes, get the latest news from your friends, post videos, and join networks to see people who live, study or work around you.
Everyone can use Facebook and it is easy to use and navigate, all you need is an email address.
- Sign Up – Enter your name and email address, create a password, enter your birthday and read the terms of use and privacy policy.
- Email Confirmation – You will be sent an email confirmation. Click on the link to complete your sign-up.
- Once your account has been created, follow the steps to find friends, fill out your profile info and join a network.
- Some of the site features include:
- The Wall – a space on each other’s profile page that allows friends to post messages for the user to see.
- Events – a way for members to let friends know about upcoming events in their community and to organize social gatherings.
- Photos – users can upload albums of photos, tag friends and comment on photos.
MySpace
MySpace is another online community where you can share photos, journals and interests with your growing network of mutual friends. MySpace is for everyone and can be set up easily.
- Sign up and create a profile – this is where you will enter your information, password and read the terms of service and privacy policy.
- Next you will be prompted to verify the account.
- You will then be prompted to upload photos, invite your friends and more.
Friendster
Friendster is a leading global online social network that is focused on helping people stay in touch with friends and discover new people and things that are important to them. People choose Friendster to connect with friends, family, school, groups, activities and interests. Friendster is a user-friendly and interactive environment.
- Sign up and create an account – you will be prompted to enter an email address, your name, birthday, gender and country.
- Once you click “Register” you are ready to:
- Build your network
- Upload a photo for your profile
- Follow the link provided in an email and you’re good to go.
Yahoo! 360*
Yahoo! 360* is a personal communication portal operated by Yahoo! Its integrated features include, social networking, blogging and photo/music sharing. Users can create personal Web sites, share photos from Yahoo! Photos, maintain blogs, lists of local reviews, supply profile information and see which friends are currently online. This site is very user-friendly with blurbs describing how to use each tool and what you can use it for.
- Sign up – You will need to create or use an existing Yahoo! e-mail address to create your profile.
- Once you have signed up, start reading the prompts and setting up your profile, writing your blog or finding friends.
- This site is very self explanatory and user-friendly.
Windows Live Spaces
Also known as MSN Spaces, this is Microsoft’s blogging and social networking platform. Several “gadgets” are available for Windows Live Spaces users that allows for greater customization of an individual’s space. Sign-in requires an MSN Hotmail, MSN Messenger or Passport account. Just click “Sign up” if you do not have one of these e-mail accounts and you will be able to create one.
Once you have created your account you can:
- Customize your space and edit your profile
- Share photos and folders
- Add blog entries
- Invite friends and more
Meetup.com
Meetup.com is an online social networking portal that facilitates offline group meetings in various locations around the world. Meetup allows members to find and join groups unified by a common interest, such as politics, books, games, movies, health, pets, careers or hobbies. Users enter their zip code and the topic they want to meet about, and the Web site helps them arrange a place and time to meet.
Meetup.com requires no login to find events, but you can easily create an account which allows you to:
- Create a personal profile
- Join groups
- Upload photos
- Add friends
- Start a Meetup group
Second Life
Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely created by its “Residents.” Residents interact with each other and experience an advanced level of a social network service. Residents can explore, meet others, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items (virtual property) and services from one another.
- Second Life requires you to download the software onto your computer. Once the software has been installed you can begin setting up your Second Life profile and creating your avatar. You must choose which membership you will have (there is a basic, free membership available). Once you have begun Second Life you can explore the many possibilities of this 3-D virtual world.