Reviews of Social Networking Sites

Shelfari.com

This social networking site seems great. It offers a free shelving system where you can keep track of books you have read, are reading, and want to read. You can post and read book reviews and character descriptions. I decided to create a profile. In the signing up process it wants access to my facebook account it requires the following permission to connect with facebook:

Shelfari is requesting permission to do the following:

·        Access my basic information Includes name, profile picture, gender, networks, user ID, list of friends, and any other information I've made public ·        Post to Facebook as me Shelfari may post status messages, notes, photos, and videos on my behalf. ·        Access my data any time Shelfari may access my data when I'm not using the application.

 

The first request sounds reasonable. The second two requests seem a bit bizarre to me. I do not have the option of restricting the requests it’s either all or nothing. Seeing that Facebook is my most daily used social networking site, I want this program to post some of my entries right to Facebook, not all, and definitely not commercialized comments stated as me. I am stopping the registration process at this time.

Weread.com

At first, I was put off by the simplicity of this site. For some reason I was directed to a message board and then to the Facebook account. It took me a while to access the correct home page of this site. One I did everything ran smoothly. It looked very similar to Shelfari but when I created an account it was not as intrusive. It only required permission to access the information, the first item on the above list. Then it notified me which of my friends had accounts with Weread, and it let me choose to connect with them. I could deselect friends if I didn’t want to connect with them all. Then it let me invite my other friends to join Weread as well. I liked this options because I am in contact with former students. So I went through and selected the people I would like to connect with and sent them invitations.

After creating a profile, connecting with friends, and uploading a picture, I began building my bookshelf. This was very easy. I was able to select some favorites from a list of books the site generated. Then I added books of my own. I was able to rate the books, write reviews, and join book clubs. So far I am very pleased and happy about this social networking site! I would love to incorporate this in my Reading class I am teaching at school! Mmmmm… oh the possibilities are piling up in my head now!! Only complaint, I’m having trouble finding a Weread app for my iPhone. Weird. Wait! Possible can access it through Facebook app! Nope, I’m having trouble with that also. Solution. I accessed it from the safari browser, signed in, and then created a shortcut on my home screen. It’s not a perfect solution because the font is small and I have to keep zooming in and out to maneuver the page, but it works. I didn’t mention the free books that are available to download on this site as well! Sweet!!

43 Things

This social networking site grabbed my attention from the Wikipedia list of networks, because I am very goal oriented. I am extremely excited with the home page! So many people with so many goals! I love it! First I declared 3 goals: Seek God First, Be Healthy and Balanced, and Be Successful and Financially Secure. Then I am creating an account using my Facebook account. I was able to choose my settings and who I shared my information with. I decided to only share with my friends at this time. I had the option to let 43 Things post as me, I declined this. My account was created!

I am able to add goals to my list, make resolutions for this year, as well as post things I have done and share stories about how I did them.

I love this site!!