Narrowcasting or Wasting Time - Whither Social Networking?

CampusActivism.org is narrowcasting. We're targetting activists and potential activists with a reasonably simple interface. No fluff. Or at least that's the goal. You can judge for yourself whether the upcoming addition of Google Maps is fluff or a serious function.

By contrast, sites like MySpace/Friendster/TagWorld/etc are trying to not just fill your needs, but to create totally new needs that are generally viewed by both observers and participants as a "Big Waste of Time".

These commercial sites overload you with their music, videos, large images, slow load times, chaotic layout, advertizing - and people love it. Addmittedly the people who love it are young (there is a massive drop-off in users that starts around age 21-23) and have less responsibility and more free time on their hands than older people.

Thus one possibility is that these "do everything" social networks are more appealing to young people, whereas narrowcasting appeals more to older people - and possibly also to serious activists. I am guessing that students (or other activists) who are serious about leading a campaign, are generally busier than their non-activist counterparts.

It is interesting to note that narrower targeted social networks, like match.com and other dating services, don't have an age drop-off (at least in the 20-40 range). People in their late twenties and thirties are willing to use online social network tools, IF they have an important need for them.

Throughout the history of campusactivism.org, I've been wondering and sometimes encouraged to add Friendster/MySpace style features. Should I turn campusactivism.org into a site that people could use for dating? I see a pratical use for letting people upload one (or a couple) picture - so that people who are used to networking online and by conference calls can recognize each other at conferences, protests and other events. However so far I've remained skeptical about dating, or letting users to start commenting on each other's profiles.

However it is possible that people can value online friendships and use online tools to build relationships that could strengthen the backbone of social movements. There-in lies the dilemma.

Is it a waste of time or would it be creating, what sociologists would call, strong network ties?