Author: CHARLENE MANCAO
SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORMS
Different ways to communicate with friends can be through the internet or mobile devices. One can have a personal page where a profile can be built in a social networking site. Through this site, one can contact friends or share resources and interests. Communication through a chat format can either be one - on - one or in a group. Topics being discussed can be posted and made knows therefore read by many or it can be discreet through a direct chat - a feature allowing one to have a certain privacy on matters considered as such.
Social networking services have been evolving for more than a decade. Initially, these social networking services allowed users to construct their personal profile so that others may know the relevant information about them. At present, these have now evolved to sharing of multimedia resources. Even having immediate and direct contact with friends in real time is easily accessible through this sites.
There are varied platforms available where one can create a personal account:
Facebook apparently is the biggest social networking site founded in 2004 based in Menlo Park, California. The most popular social network apparently is Facebook. Used by most people, it allows users to post their profile, blogs, pictures and videos. Facebook lets one share status updates, news articles with friends and family.
Twitter does not only provide social networking service but it also gives online news. Breaking news has taken a new twist with this social network website. Friends or colleagues may tell that they saw the breaking news on Twitter.
Twitter is the site where users post and interact with messages called "tweets," restricted only to 140 characters. Only registered users can post tweets, but those who are not can only read them. One of the main features of Twitter is it enables people to post their thoughts immediately. Founded in 2006, Twitter is based in San Francisco, California, United States.
LinkedIn is another social networking website for work. When one is trying to find a job and may not have contacts, LinkedIn helps one search for career connections. It may contain one's resume for potential employers to see.
The website lets one upload his educational qualifications, skills, work history, and relevant experiences. One's connections can even endorse and this helps employers who can message the one concerned and talk about the possibility of employment. Launched in 2003, this is a popular social site in the professional world.
Google+ is designed to be a total communication social network. Launched in 2011, Google is its parent and it is more advantageous if it is kept as a browser for users are connected even if they are outside Google + site. Users can make friends and remained up to date with old friends without leaving their Gmail account. To distinguish connection, Google+ creates circle and the four standard circles refer to friends, family, acquaintances and those being followed. Users can actually create as many circles as they intend.
Youtube is an American video - sharing website where users can upload, views, and even share video clips or multimedia productions. It is a free social network site to join and use. Since it is owned by Google, YouTube prefers a Google account to make it easier and streamlined. It allows users to share personal videos, view other uploaded multimedia clips and make connections with friends and acquaintances. Just like with other social networking sites, users can either make their videos private or public. Based in San Bruno, California, the service was created in February 2005.
Pinterest is another social media tool that like YouTube, is often thought of as otherwise. Pinterest was designed as a catalogue of ideas or project ideas by its founder Ben Silberman. This is an excellent choice for those who have a passion for creativity. Users must have an account on Pinterest. An email account or a Facebook account can be used in signing up to Pinterest, and if users will use Facebook, their wall would be ready to post pins without linking with Facebook.
Tumblr is a networking site that combines social media and blogging. Its main goal is to simplify social media and blogging. Users can post whatever they like such as photos, videos, quotes, music, links. This is a social media that makes it very easy and straight forward to search just about anything.
MySpace is another popular social networking website where members can make friends, post blogs and photos, videos. It was acquired by Specific Media in 2011 and based in Beverly Hills California. MySpace had its dose of crisis but came back stronger and rebranded to focus on music. Personal users can use MySpace to keep up with their favorite artists, have an update on the music industry, see what their friends are listening to, and connect with people who have similar music preferences. It is fitting social networking website for music.
Flickr (pronounced "flicker") is an image and video hosting website that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo. It offers massive online photo storage.
Bebo is a social networking website with the backronym "Blog Early, Blog Often". It was invented to answer the questions what the name meant. It was founded by husband - and - wife team Michel and Xochi Birch in January 2005 at their home in San Francisco.
With the fast development and vast coverage of innovations that address the mediated communicative needs in the virtual reality, it is expected that there will be more interactive features of social networking sites that will be readily available for the users in the upcoming days.
Reference: Technology for Teaching and Learning 1
Authors: Purita P. Bilbao, EdD
Ma. Asuncion Christine V. Dequilla, PhD
Daisy A. Rosano, PhD
Helen B. Boholano, LIB, EdD
