Top Social Networking Sites - General Interest
Founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was designed as a social networking site for Harvard students. After spreading from Harvard through the university ranks and down into high school, Facebook was opened to the public in 2006. Since then, it has been one of the fastest growing social networks.
Hi5
A fast-growing social network with a strong base in Central America, Hi5 has over fifty million users worldwide. While it is often found in the top 10 most visited websites in the world, it often fails to make the top 50 in the U.S.
One part social networking, one part worldwide chat, Twitter is one of the fastest growing phenomenons in the world. A mini-blogging service that lets you update your friends on what you are doing at that moment, Twitter was launched in late 2006 and had explosive growth in 2007.
Friendster
Launched in 2002, Friendster helped vitalize the Web 2.0 revolution of social networks, and was the source of inspiration for MySpace. One of the most popular social networks of its time, Friendster was overtaken by MySpace in 2004.
Imeem
Combining social networking and social media, Imeem focuses on sharing music, pictures, video and blog posts. Originally more of a peer-to-peer network with social networking features, Imeem has grown into a full-fledged social network.
Tagged
A general social networking site, Wikipedia reports that Tagged may be inflating its numbers to attract more users. The seeming lack of moderation for inappropriate material makes this social network unfit for kids.
Ning
MySpace
The Onion
Description: An oldie but a goody, The Onion is still going strong and remains one of the hippest places to hang out on the web. Known for satirical news and irreverent treatment of popular issues, The Onion might just be the funniest destination on the web. For this, it tops the list of cool websites.
43 Things
43 Things is a social network that focuses on goal setting. Members are linked by what goals they wish to attain and which goals they have already completed. On 43 Things, you can share in goals by creating a goal and inviting friends to complete them with you.
Netlog
A leading international social network, Netlog is targeted at European youth. With the goal of becoming the ultimate youth destination, Netlog allows users to litter their profile with blog posts, pictures, videos and events to share with their friends.
Badoo
Badoo is one of the most popular international social networks with a large userbase in Europe. Based in London and appealing to a general crowd, Badoo forgoes advertising on its site in favor of charging a small fee to advertise profiles in a more prominent space, though the social network itself is absolutely free to use.
Bebo
Bebo is a popular social networking site with a large base in the US, Canda, UK and Ireland. Bebo was purchased by AOL in 2008 for $850 million and has a tight integration with the AOL Instant Messenger, Skype and the Windows Live Messengers. It also features Bebo Music, Bebo Authors and Bebo Mobile.
Orkut
Google's attempt to get involved with the social networking craze, Orkut was never able to catch on in North America. However, it has become quite popular in Brazil and in India, thus making it a viable international social network. It also allows users to log in through their Google account.
Piczo
Aimed at teenagers, Piczo is an up-and-comer in the social networking ranks. Emphasizing the ability to customize profiles with interests and decorating them with glitter text without much technical skill required, Piczo is focused on showing your creativity.
Pownce
Pownce is an enhanced (albeit far less popular) form of Twitter. Like Twitter, it allows micro-blogging, but it allows longer messages, support for discussions, and embedded files and videos among other things.
Reunion
A social network with an emphasis on the past, Reunion is focused on helping you to find long-lost pals and old schoolmates. As such, it also takes distinctive aim at adult social networking users and features a reverse-search lookup to allow people to find out who is searching for them, though advanced features of the social network require a premium (i.e. fee-based) account. Reunion has also come under fire for some privacy concerns according to Wikipedia.
Xanga
While many social networks allow you to host a blog, Xanga is more like a blog network with social networking features. In addition to a focus on customization, Xanga allows you to join blog rings, nudge fellow bloggers, and keep up with a mini-blog called a pulse.
