The Best Social Networking Sites In The Known Universe

A definitive list of the best social networking sites  isn't an easy task. It depends (as much as anything) on who’s doing the asking. Social networking isn’t a newly coined phrase either; people have been doing it for centuries. This is how the powers-that-be decided the fates of many all down the centuries. They'd get together, meet over dinner, knock back gallons of wine and then decide which nation to blow up next, who to colonize, who to pillage, that kind of thing.

However, we’re talking about the virtual world, and that’s a whole new ball game. Online social networking is, undeniably, the new cool. Everybody’s doing it (pretty much) and if you’re not then … maybe you’ve got an unhealthy obsession with your own company or perhaps you simply prefer a world that’s filled with tangibles, as opposed to one that’s filled with Gmail and Facebook?

But this is about a list, and I’m figuring that a top ten should cover most bases. If it doesn’t well you can always let me know you’re not too happy with the service. I’ll get back to you. Soon as I’m done building up my fences on Farmville …

Top 10 Social Networking Sites

Ok here it is, the top ten social networking  list of sites around the internet. I hunted around, collated, that kind of thing. Not hard really. I just bloody Googled it.

#10  Bebo – A trendy site, aimed at just about everyone, and it features similarities with the likes of Facebook et al. You get a personal account page, can upload images, connect and socialize, plus you get to post blogs and a few other handy little feature missing from some of their competitors.Should you use it? If you’re still running wild with your hormones (under 18), or you’ve decided that staying home after getting the kids to bed is better than getting acquainted with the bottom of a wine glass(over 30), then give it a shot. My money’s on Facebook.

#9 Meetup – A popular site that’s based around physically meeting like-minded groups of people, both near and far. Was doing pretty good until recently, when an overhaul to the site appeared to piss off the regulars. Enough that they threatened some kind of virtual walk-out. Not cool.

Should you use it? Unless you like face to face meetings, and you’re not the kind to wall-flowe-away in a corner, then no. If, on the other hand, you love meeting new people, sharing and exchanging ideas, go for it. The world’s your oyster.

#8 myYearbook – This one’s all about hanging out with school friends. Or at least it started out that way. Yup … a bit like Facebook. Anyway, it’s pretty popular with US users, and I’m supposing the tag line ‘friends, flirts, fun’ is kinda attractive. Until (that is) it ain’t cool to do the flirst, on account of the fact that your girlfriend will tear you a new one if she finds out.

Should you use it? It’s a blast if you know others that use it. It is pretty popular in the US and there are some nice touches to it.

#7 hi5 – This one suits the young, the joyful, and the online gamer types. Its chock full of flash games, a bit like Facebook, only there’s far more games to choose from. Well-liked by those that use it, a happy online playground and definitely worth a look see.

Should you use it? If you love playing around on tons of different games, and don’t like being warned that your security settings need updating every five minutes, then yes, check it out.

#6 Tagged – Again this one has a similar look and feel to Facebook. Competitor? Unlikely as FB is too far out in front. Still, Tagged works with FB, you can sign in using your FB username etc, which at least shows that it recognizes the benefits that come with buddying up with Goliath.

Should you use it? Why not? It sort of works alongside FB and no doubt you’re already using it anyway. Good for when there’s a lull in action.

#5 Ning – Like many, I’ve used Ning in the past, right up until they got greedy. You still get a 30 day free trial, which is fine for, well … 30 days. After that you’ve gotta get the readies out. Personally I like upfront, open and honest platforms, which this one was. Up until they got greedy. Have I said that already?

Should you use it? It can be a cool place to hang out. The interface is easy to work with and you do get some cool tools to play around with. However, on the face of it Ning is a social networking site that allows you to create your own private ... network. You can create private social groups on Facebook. For free.

#4 Linkedin – This is a social networking site for professionals. It’s the thinking man’s Facebook. Highly popular, pretty easy to navigate, great for pro networking. I’m on there, and I do use it from a work perspective. Recommended if you’re serious about what it is you do.

Should you use it? See above. The whole site’s like a who’s who in a wide variety of professional environments. It’s also multi-national, and available /like Meetup) in six different languages.

#3 MySpace – yes, the site still lives and hasn’t vanished into the myths of time quite like some would believe. Despite its drop in popularity, it remains alive and well and, let’s face it … after all these years and still going strong … that makes it a pretty strong social network site to be reckoned with.

Should you use it? If you love music, blogging, pimping up your profile (something massively absent on many such sites) they yes, give it a whirl. The interface is a little complicated on first sight, and you will feel a bit clumsy to start with, but definitely worth the effort.

#2 Twitter – the original micro blogging social network web site. Some five years after it was first launched, some people still don’t get the urge to ‘tweet’. Still, once you’ve worked out what all the Twitterverse slang means, you’ll be tweeting with the best of them.

Should you use it? Yes. It’s a fun site, pretty fast paced once you settle in and find your niche and it is entertaining, more so when you keep trying to refine your own tweets or best someone else’s.

# 1 Facebook – who’d have thought it huh? Good old FB, now into its 7^th year and growing exponentially every single day. Thought to be the biggest and best social networking site in the known (virtual) universe, and it’s certainly the most popular one. Some 600 million plus users on there at the last count … which is quite the crowd indeed.

Should you use it? Absolutely. It’s not the best for nothing, and you don’t need to be a hormonal teen or a raging socialite to enjoy using it. One for all ages, all types, all nationalities.