Connectivity:
In the past few years, there has been an explosion of connectivity websites on the internet. By connectivity, I mean social networking. Some examples of these websites are facebook, myspace and hyves.
These websites are created for people to interact with one another, build a social network and come in contact with people who have certain interests or qualities in common. Often, these websites have directories with which they can come in contact with people they know or have known. An example is finding old classmates when searching through the directory of your old school. When having found for example an old classmate, you can request to become their friend. When you have become someone’s “friend”, you can not only see their profile but also who their friends are. You can request to become their friend’s friend, and in return see who their friend’s friend’s friends are. You’re social network can become huge.
These websites often become a part of people’s daily routines. Checking if their “friends” left any messages for them and leaving them messages in return. Updating their status, moods, pictures, blog, etc. Instead of checking their email first thing in the morning, it becomes more normal to check their myspace for new messages.
Myspace is probably the biggest connectivity website that exists to date. It was created in August 2003, and was a new initiative of the internet company eUniverse, which is now called Intermix. “It is currently the world’s sixth most popular English-language website and the sixth most popular website in any language, and the third most popular website in the United States, though it has topped the chart on various weeks.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace). The website reportedly has a rate of 230,000 per day. In September 2007, myspace has over 200 million accounts.
It is amazing how easy it is for different people all over the world to connect with each other. Websites such as myspace, facebook and hyves have certainly made it easier to do so. In the past couple of years the popularity of these social networking websites has grown hugely and they will probably continue to do so.
Sources:
http://www.communitiesworld.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace
