I have decided to look at the three social network sites that our IST 110 class has been following. They also happen to be the three largest in terms of market share. Facebook, MySpace, and Bebo must be doing something to keep a grip on their share of users in the social networking market.

Although Facebook does not have nearly as large a base as MySpace, the format and functionality of their interface is gaining a lot of users and notice among the media. Facebook sorts users into different networks. These networks can be high schools, colleges, employers, cities, and countries. Users in the same network can usually see more information about other users, events, and groups in the same network. Users profiles on Facebook are designed to be easily modified. Sections can be dragged and dropped to suit aesthetics of the individual user. The profile displays information about the user’s tastes that includes but is not restricted to music, movies, books, TV shows, and quotes. Photos can be uploaded to be used as an avatar or put in photo albums to be displayed on the profile. Members can “tag” other members in the same photo. This tagged photo is then automatically loaded onto to the tagged user’s profile. Every user’s profile has a “Wall.” On the wall, friends of the users (depending on the level of privacy) can post comments. This is the method of public communication between members. Users can also message each other. Messages are private. Walls and Photo tagging are the main source of engagement between members.

Facebook users can also create and join groups and events. Events are planned activities by members that can be used to notify and inform people of parties, dinners, dances, or any other imaginable gathering that people can do together. Groups are made to bring users with similar interests together. Along with these basic functions of Facebook, there are others applications such as iLike (music interests), Video (video upload), etc. Third-parties continue to make this widgets and Facebook only becomes denser in data. Some users of Facebook have so many applications installed on their profiles to the point where one can become confused just by scrolling down their profile page.

On the social networking site, MySpace, many of the same features in Facebook are present. The same profile of information about users is posted along with an avatar and pictures. There is no method of “tagging” users in photos on MySpace. A big social attraction on MySpace is the popular music artists, celebrities, athletes, and other people of interest. Regular MySpace users can become friends with these famous members and follow their lives more intimately. Music artists can also post some of their songs for promotion. MySpace services also include a blogging pages, were members can post blog entries. MySpace users can subscribe to these blogs. MySpace also does its own version of groups and events.

Bebo is the third largest social network site in terms of traffic. It also the very same basic functions as Facebook and MySpace. Bebo’s profile page for its users allows them to add their own widgets, add videos, pictures, quizzes, and polls. Similar to MySpace’s blogging portion, Bebo incorporates blogging right on their members profile pages. Bebo also includes a white board where users can draw images using paint. Members can do searches for each other pretty easily. Bebo has music artist’s profiles, but most of them are small and unheard of.