I'm constantly trying out new social networking services and services that help individuals manage their online identities. Here's my current overview on some of the best.
Facebook
My favorite SNS at the moment. I've managed to connect and stay in touch with an amazing number of new and old friends in a short amount of time. This is the SNS to be playing with at the moment.
Good Points: Very well designed with good usability; I can automatically import lots of outside content; lots 3rd party apps providing lots of new functions; appealing to a wide audience of fun and business users so more chance people will register; very viral; good system of categorizing how you know people and type of relationship.
Bad Points: Still a standalone network so LinkedIn etc. network contacts have to be built completely separately; some of the apps are simply time wasters; some of the apps don't work.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn used to be my favorite until Facebook boomed. Still good for keeping connected and up-to-date with what contacts are doing. I find requests beyond 2 degrees often don't get a response, even if your first degree network is really people you know (although that most often happens when the people you are trying to connect with are obviously not heavy users). Got to beware of people simply trying to boost the number of connections they have.
Xing
Nice site for connecting with business people, but a European-heavy user base although they arepushing hard to expand. Very well designed and internationlized with interface in many languages.
Ecademy
Great site for networking online, but user base seems to be largely self employed people and is still UK-heavy. No internationalization. Worth using if you want to build a network outside Japan.
Spock
Spock is currently (Sept. 2007) in BETA but they are one of the companies who are trying to do something to help individuals manage their online identities.
and Profilactic is helping me mange all the other sites ...
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