Why Do We Really Use Social Networks?

The folks over at Mashable have recently brought up an interesting point that has undoubtedly been debated and discussed throughout the blogging community since the beginning of the Web 2.0 phenomenon: Why do people really use Social Networking sites? The idealist would certainly say that these sites are useful tools for interacting with existing friends and meeting new peers who share similar backgrounds, interests and experiences. At the same time, the Negative Nancy of the group might say that these websites are nothing more than an excuse to ogle random strangers, stalk your high school crush and most importantly, get some love. To that end, Mashable has proposed the question, which Social Networking site is most likely to get you laid? Choices range from popular communities like Myspace, TheFacebook and Friendster, to smaller niche sites like MyBlogLog and Stickam. While Mashable readers are probably not the best demographic to answer this monumental question, they do seem to feel that Myspace (133 votes out of 372) is best suited to help you score. Interesting Information? Sure…A valid critique of Social Networking? I don’t think so.

While it is very easy to just jump on that bandwagon and joke that these Social Networks are ultimately used as a means of hooking up with existing friends or random strangers, I really don’t think that this is the case for a majority of users on these sites. Clearly Myspace facilitates a more sexual/relationship-based interaction, all one needs to do is look at a random teen’s profile to know that they are using the site to sell themselves as much as for any interpersonal communication. However, Myspace is by far the exception rather than the rule when it comes to all aspects of social networking.

The overwhelming majority of new sites are much more focused on relationship building and sharing common inertest than meeting people for a random hook-up. Even a website like TheFacebook, while it may be perfect for stalking and keeping close tabs on friends and acquaintances, is legitimately used for everything from facilitating college elections, planning group events and, as we have seen most recently after the Virginia Tech tragedy, connecting a huge community of individuals who share the same wants, dreams and struggles. Additionally, popular social networks like Digg, Del.icio.us, YouTube and LinkedIn place very little emphasis on images or personal description, stressing quality of content over characteristics of the individual user. I don’t question the tendency younger, hormone-driven kids to use these sites for “personal gain,” but those same kids use everything from sporting events to study sessions as an attempt to hook up with their latest crush. Perhaps I just have too much faith in humanity, but I don’t think that a majority of users are signing up for accounts on these sites just to find another one-night-stand, but who knows!