Skip this post.

It’s just going to confuse you further.

Chris Brogan of Lifehack.org (not the more famous Lifehacker):

Why so many? Because there are different reasons to be part of different groups. And all of these groups drive one thing: connection to other people who share similar interests.

If you haven’t figured this all out, the reason the world is going all social networking happy is because this is your means to connect to people directly and get away from the rigid structure of corporate ladders and protocol and hierarchy.

It’s a way to extend your audience of friends, colleagues, business partners, and teammates. The whole point of this is to build your new world map from the digits and bits and free hugs left floating out there on the Internet in search of you. Did you know that? People are trying to find you and connect.

Why so many platforms?

Just like in real life, there are tons of networks, and they each have their own spin. There are presence networks like Twitter and Jaiku. There are broader platforms like Facebook or the less elegant MySpace. And there are networks with themes like Flickr for photos, or LinkedIN for business. There are do-it-yourself social platforms like Ning. I could name tons more sites (and all those links are to my profiles on all those sites), but you get the point. …

Social Networks are the New Chambers of Commerce

I believe if you’re a business, or belong to a certain profession, that joining the trade organizations and consortiums and chambers are all important duties to continue doing in the “real world.” But it is just as important to establish your footprint in virtual spaces, like Second Life, where plenty of real world business is being transacted every day. On top of this, these personal social networks like the Twitters and the Facebooks are important ways to reach out and establish relationships. And if you join some of the non-work-heavy sites like a Flickr, you get the added benefit or proving to prospective customers, clients, and colleagues that you’re a real human being, talented, and not just some kind of corporate robot.

That Whole Social Networking Thing – lifehack.org

I love flickr and am learning to love Facebook. So far, it looks to be the one social network to rule them all.

I love YouTube, as well, but their social networking system is lousy.

Downtown Ronnie is more into it than I:

Right now I have usernames on Skype, Linkedin, Facebook and Myragan, plus of course I spend time keeping this blog going, not to mention trying to work for a living.

It’s no wonder my barbecue podcast is on hiatus. I’m feeling social media burnout, and I’m far from being a super-user.

For Your Approval: A social network for communicators