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In recent years social Networking has come a long way. The founders of the concept are companies like LinkedIn, Facebook, and MySpace and the video below does a great job of explaining the importance of Social Networking.
(Can't see the video? Click Here to watch on YouTube)
But we're overlooking something here. Recently, as web2.0 has expanded the internet into a widespread linked network of content throughout multiple sites, social networking has become much more than just logging into myspace and reading the blog of a friend of a friend or hiring the co-worker of a former employer on Linked-In. Social Networking has expanded into people networking through content distribution because of web 2.0 and RSS. One doesn't necessarilly have to have a linked-in account or a myspace page to find someone on the web anymore, in fact, I would even venture so far as to say that myspace is the outdated technology of 1999 while companies like Stumble Upon, Technorati and del.icio.us are paving the future for social networking 2.0.
Here's an example. Let's suppose that you are interested in finding a new resturaunt in your local city. After googling a new resturaunt, you end up reading a blog written by a food critic who is recommending this resturaunt. You enjoy this food critics blog so much that you click the "thumb's up" icon in your firefox browser to indicate that you like it and you also add the blog to your rss feed reader while also bookmarking it to your del.icio.us account. You then go to the resturaunt and enjoy the food so much that when you get home, you leave a comment on the food critics blog, thanking him for such a superb recommendation. In the footer of your comment is a link to your own blog which is all about restoring vintage cars. One week later, another individual who "stumbled upon" (thanks to you clicking the "thumbs up" icon) the food critics blog happens to read your comment and clicked through to your vintage car blog. This person then sends you some information about an upcoming car show they happen to be sponsoring that you had no idea about. You then end up attending this car show and not only blog about it, but you meet the vintage car sponsor there who becomes a great friend.
Is a scenario like this plausible? Absolutely. But what separates this from logging into your myspace page and searching for other myspace members that are interested in vintage cars to become friends with? Intent. Social Networking 2.0 is better than the old way because it is natural, based upon interests and not as contrived as the ever-so obvious myspace hookups. In essence, it is a new way of networking that happens naturally, as it did in the days prior to the internet and will flourish with the assistance of web2.0, social bookmarking, rss feeds and google.
