Social Media 100
Dec 4, 2007

Chris Brogan has started a Social Media 100 series. It’s a series of 100 posts, where he’ll share his thoughts on how to use social media effectively. It’s going to be great, so head over to [chrisbrogan.com] and check it out.

You guys may have noticed that lately I’ve been writing a lot more about social media – stuff like Twitter, Social networks, etc. It’s partly because I’m personally getting really involved in that at the moment. But it’s also something that I think we can all gain from. Social media is a great way to express yourself. It’s a great way to share your thoughts and opinions. And more than that, it’s a great way to build a community.

Those are things that Sui Generis has always been about. Letting your true colors shine through. Expressing yourself. Connecting with others (like-minded and otherwise) . And that the combination of those will enable you to make an impact on society.

Social media is great for that. And that’s why I’ve been writing so much about it, and encouraging you guys to participate.

And on that topic, what tools are you using to help connect with others and build community?

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Why I Love Twitter
Dec 2, 2007

Ricky Van Veen presented us with the case against hyperblogging last month. And Fred Graver gave us his response.

Both of them seem to make the similar point that services like Twitter provide too much information, and lack intelligent messages. I think that’s missing the point of what Twitter can be great for. So here’s why I love Twitter (I’m using Twitter as a specific example because I use it regularly, unlike things like Tumblr).

Personally, I think that the “too much information” argument misses the point. You wouldn’t complain that in when people call you for a chat, there’s too much information (in that short period of time) and the person doesn’t think through (with drafts) about what he/she is saying, would you? Or an IM conversation? And to me, that’s what Twitter is about. It’s a place for conversations. It’s not as much about information as it is about connection and relationships. @loudmouthman defined it quite well, as “the open plan office water cooler conversations“.

To me, Twitter is all about community. It’s a great place to hold conversations, to build connections and get to know people. It’s a great way to just build friendships and relationships. The story of @kosso and @01000101 is a great example (they met and fell in love via Twitter, and are now engaged).

I love the community built around Twitter. I’ve had so many awesome conversations. And twice already, I’ve posted questions (on two vastly different topics), and gotten offers of help within a couple of hours. Things like what Chris Brogan did for Noell’s birthday (he’s never met her, by the way) are just amazing.

Queen of Spain’s post sums it up really well.

“So I’m done with talk of ‘what is web 2.0?’ and ‘what is social media?’

It’s life.”

If you’re not on Twitter, yet, I encourage you to join it. It’s an awesome place. If you are already on Twitter – or after you join, as I’m sure you’re about to ; ) – feel free to follow me.

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The Real World’s Guide to Social Networks
Nov 29, 2007

I’m on quite a few social networks (more than average, but nowhere near the likes of Chris Brogan). I’ll write more about why I’m on places like Twitter, and why I think you should join, in the near future. But for today, just wanted to share a wiki I just started. Inspired by a conversation from Twitter yesterday. It’s free for the public to edit, so if you’ve got any ideas about other networks and all, add them in! You can get the full wiki here, but it’s embedded below for you, so you can edit it right from here if you want. For those of you reading this through a reader, you’ll have to go directly to the wiki to view/edit it, sorry.

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Why I’m Not On Facebook
Nov 7, 2007

With Facebook announcing their new ad platform and Google’s OpenSocial announcement last week, the social networking arena is getting a lot of press now. Because of that, and also because I was just at Podcamp last week, I think now’s as good a time as any for me to explain why I’m not on Facebook.

Firstly, something that is surprisingly not that well documented (based on my searches, at least). This is the biggest thing that’s preventing me from joining Facebook. From their Terms and Conditions:

When you post User Content to the Site, you authorize and direct us to make such copies thereof as we deem necessary in order to facilitate the posting and storage of the User Content on the Site. By posting User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant, and you represent and warrant that you have the right to grant, to the Company an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, publicly perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt (in whole or in part) and distribute such User Content for any purpose on or in connection with the Site or the promotion thereof, to prepare derivative works of, or incorporate into other works, such User Content, and to grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing. You may remove your User Content from the Site at any time. If you choose to remove your User Content, the license granted above will automatically expire, however you acknowledge that the Company may retain archived copies of your User Content.

Personally, I think that’s a horrendous policy. It basically gives them the right to do whatever they want with the things you post, and keep copies even after you leave. And keep in mind that “User Content” includes things like your profile.

Secondly, an article I just read today, but which has been around for a couple of weeks. Apparently Facebook employees can (and do) see what you do on Facebook. Invasion of privacy anyone?

Considering these two simple things, I don’t really want to ever go on Facebook. Yes, it does have its purpose, and most people don’t really post things important, but the intrusion of privacy is just too much for me.

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