Social
networking is hardly only about Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Though humans
have been networking socially ever since they discovered the joys of each
other’s company, it was the ubiquity of the internet that made the term trendy.
However, there exists a school of thought that defines ‘Facebooking’ as the
pastime of self-indulgent narcissists who want the world to know that they’ve
brushed their teeth today.
But social networking is more than likes and selfies. A simple Google search will reveal that nobody’s really decided on how (or if) social networks can be definitively classified. But we won’t go into the nitty-gritties of how to categorise social networks; instead, here are some social networking platforms that most of us — even those superlatively dismissive of ‘Facebook and all that’ — could find (or might already have found) useful.
Goodreads
This is where a good number of readers of the world go to geek out. You can use Goodreads as a regular website, that is, without having a profile and signing in, or as a social networking platform, with a user profile, a ‘shelf’ full of books, and interacting with other readers, reviewing books, having discussions and so on. Since a significant proportion of authors are also on Goodreads, this is a great chance to interact directly with them, ask them questions and read their own blogs posts and reviews. There are also polls and discussions to participate in, plus enter giveaways for the chance to win free books or review copies.
Zomato
Zomato is social networking for foodies. Covering 10,000 cities in 22 countries, its mission is to ensure you ‘don’t have a bad meal ever again’. Simply speaking, if you’re looking for a place to eat, this is where you need to look. Just enter a restaurant, cuisine or dish, making sure your correct location has been identified and sit back for a recommendation.
You can read user reviews, check out menus, find out how to get there, see if they deliver, how cheap or expensive a meal might be and a whole lot more.
Again, you don’t need to be a member or signed in to use its staggering database, but if you are, then you can form your own foodie community.
TripAdvisor
For those who plan their holidays and other trips online, TripAdvisor can be a trusty personal assistant. From travel and stay options to advice and reviews, this is the place to go to get the low-down on any destination or hotel that you might be considering.
As one of the world’s largest travel-related sites, TripAdvisor’s crowd-sourced reviews and tips means you are getting your information from the horse’s mouth.
Apart from a variety of travel-related content (hotels, flights, restaurants, reviews and forums), TripAdvisor also allows you to form a profile, have a network of friends and so on. If you don’t want to, no big deal — just use it like a regular website.
But social networking is more than likes and selfies. A simple Google search will reveal that nobody’s really decided on how (or if) social networks can be definitively classified. But we won’t go into the nitty-gritties of how to categorise social networks; instead, here are some social networking platforms that most of us — even those superlatively dismissive of ‘Facebook and all that’ — could find (or might already have found) useful.
Goodreads
This is where a good number of readers of the world go to geek out. You can use Goodreads as a regular website, that is, without having a profile and signing in, or as a social networking platform, with a user profile, a ‘shelf’ full of books, and interacting with other readers, reviewing books, having discussions and so on. Since a significant proportion of authors are also on Goodreads, this is a great chance to interact directly with them, ask them questions and read their own blogs posts and reviews. There are also polls and discussions to participate in, plus enter giveaways for the chance to win free books or review copies.
Zomato
Zomato is social networking for foodies. Covering 10,000 cities in 22 countries, its mission is to ensure you ‘don’t have a bad meal ever again’. Simply speaking, if you’re looking for a place to eat, this is where you need to look. Just enter a restaurant, cuisine or dish, making sure your correct location has been identified and sit back for a recommendation.
You can read user reviews, check out menus, find out how to get there, see if they deliver, how cheap or expensive a meal might be and a whole lot more.
Again, you don’t need to be a member or signed in to use its staggering database, but if you are, then you can form your own foodie community.
TripAdvisor
For those who plan their holidays and other trips online, TripAdvisor can be a trusty personal assistant. From travel and stay options to advice and reviews, this is the place to go to get the low-down on any destination or hotel that you might be considering.
As one of the world’s largest travel-related sites, TripAdvisor’s crowd-sourced reviews and tips means you are getting your information from the horse’s mouth.
Apart from a variety of travel-related content (hotels, flights, restaurants, reviews and forums), TripAdvisor also allows you to form a profile, have a network of friends and so on. If you don’t want to, no big deal — just use it like a regular website.
Quora
Quora is a somewhat different kind of social space. At one level, it is a simple question-and-answer platform, where users may either pose questions and or answer those others have posted. At another, it is a vast knowledge base that is always expanding, and a social network where users ask, answer, edit and collaborate.
Even though you can access a Quora question-and-answer page by, say, following a link via a search, the site is really only useable if you have a username and password to sign in with. Quora can also be a vastly interesting website to spend a free afternoon when you have nothing else to do. And yes, you really can ask anything. Zz
Quora is a somewhat different kind of social space. At one level, it is a simple question-and-answer platform, where users may either pose questions and or answer those others have posted. At another, it is a vast knowledge base that is always expanding, and a social network where users ask, answer, edit and collaborate.
Even though you can access a Quora question-and-answer page by, say, following a link via a search, the site is really only useable if you have a username and password to sign in with. Quora can also be a vastly interesting website to spend a free afternoon when you have nothing else to do. And yes, you really can ask anything. Zz
Source | Financial
Chronicle | 25 August 2015
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