Widgets and Social Networks, a perfect match?

June 29th, 2007

6 comments

Posted in: Inside Chitika

With 66 different friend-oriented (not just general) Social Networks out there, the typical user usually opts to open a social network account based on what their friends/family are already using. Most people use these types of services to easily keep in touch with people they know, to find old classmates, or for dating. For me, it was the first option. Many of my friends and family had a page of their own years before I started mine, otherwise, why would I?

It’s no secret that widgets of expression are extremely popular among these types of social networks like Bebo. Everyone has something to prove to the world right? On a realiaistic level, more in teenagers or young adults I think, services like Myspace help them get a point across. Are we so obsessed with representing ourselves using colors and quotes that we refer to it as the “art-form of ourselves”?

It’s not until you get a chance to “make it your own” - if you will - that people may start to take interest in using a widget. How will this help me express myself and say something cool? When users showed us how they used the Chitika | Owna on their web & Myspace pages, we noticed one thing in common among the implementations: They were all used and expressed in completely different ways. For example, Sally placed an image of a Prada bag in her sparkling Owna skin and used “TIM PLEASE BUY ME THIS!” as her tag line while George decided to use the DJ skin to showcase his new Sony Notebook. It was something about making it their own that envoked passion.

Makes you wonder… if blogs and other social networking tools were popular & used by our parents while growing up, would we see the interest in them today, or shy away because it wasn’t a byproduct of our generation?

I can just see it now, “Hang on sweetie I’m just quickly sending out this email to my co-worker on Linkedin, and uploading my pictures to Facebook, then I’ll be ready to take you to soccer practice”. “Um, okay Mom.”

6 Responses to “ Widgets and Social Networks, a perfect match? ”

1. 
   David Burgess Says:
   June 30th, 2007 at 3:33 pm

   I like linked in but its just not useful. Its a static directory of names which I cannot even access without paying them. I like congoo.com and facebook for contacting people free although facebook is mostly kids. Congoo seems to have real industry pros and I like congoo because of the industry news too. My two cents.

2. 
   Bassett Says:
   July 4th, 2007 at 12:46 pm

   Hi Sharon-

   We had met at the Problogger event in NYC. I had a few questions, and I can’t seem to find your email address … can you email me?

   Thanks!
   Brian Bassett
   thejetsblog [at] gmail.com

3. 
   Tony Says:
   July 7th, 2007 at 12:03 pm

   Loved the article. I’m helping a client develop a new social networking related site, so the link to thesocialsoftwareweblog is timely. Thanks for the comment on congoo, which I’ve not tried before. I’m using LinkedIn to promote sponsorships for my own web site, http://www.blogpatrol.com — but I’ll definitely checkout congoo based on David Burgess’ comment.

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5. 
   Nelson Smith Says:
   December 8th, 2007 at 1:02 pm

   David made some great comments there l personally have used spicypage and myspace for good social networking sites l will try congoo
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6. 
   The Chitika Blog » Blog Archive » Zune 80 vs. iPod - Deal or Designer? Says:
   December 18th, 2007 at 8:27 pm

   [...] But why would someone who’s aware of the different MP3 players go for the iPod over the Zune that has more features? Jason Chen from Gizmodo.com says “You really like the music/picture sharing: Zune. It’s a feature not found on the iPod, but will have limited use unless your friends all buy Zunes.” It’s the same thing as being a member of a social network that none of your friends are on, pointless. [...]

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