I’ve cancelled my Bebo account (for those unfamiliar with Bebo, it’s similar to MySpace). Unfortunately, for the past several months, I’ve received far too many spam messages that I just have to go in and delete. I also found that I rarely used the service after the first few weeks once I set it up. That said, I would have stayed on if not for the spam—especially the aggravating porno comments mass-sent via cell phone—because I loved the template that I found to showcase my profile and books. But the spam wasn’t worth it. So, to my bona fide Bebo friends, bye-bye! If you want to find me on a social networking site, I’m still on MySpace and intend to stay there. I’m also on Goodreads and Shelfari, although I’m thinking of losing Shelfari, too. Adding books there is a PITA. For some reason, the program runs slow on my computer. I don’t have that problem with Goodreads.
For those who use social networks, which ones are you on and which of those do you find worth your time? Which have you left and why? I’ve never joined Facebook, for example, because I’m already on MySpace and I don’t want to set myself up for another Bebo experience. For those on Facebook, would you recommend it? How about Twitter?
Gah, I’ve just let go of Bebo! Do I really want to saddle myself with another social network? Right now I feel social-networked up the whazoo. I need and want to focus on my writing for the next several months.
I’ve been a Facebook member but never did anything there except agree to be people’s friends. But now my American Title V finalists started a group Facebook page, so I went to my page last night and uploaded my picture and spent a little time browsing my friends’ site.
I see these sites as more of a time suck, but I don’t think Facebook will be that bad. I’ve heard MySpace is better for writers, but I don’t know how to design a page, so haven’t bothered. I have a Shelfari and Twitter accounts but don’t use them either. I’m on the computer so much, I don’t have time for all these sites. Like you, I want to focus on my writing.
Good subject!
OMG, so funny. I deleted my Bebo account this morning, too! I got, like, three friend requests that were pornographic, so I said the hell with it and deleted it.
Glad to see the TV thing is an aberration. 🙂
Anyway, I deleted my Facebook, too, because it was a timesuck with all the vampire and werewolf fighting and garden growing and stuff. I set up a Shelfari but haven’t kept up with it; no time.
But MySpace is easy to maintain and network with, and I have had nothing in MySpace waste my time. I blog there, and I like to see the hits pile up daily. 🙂
Okay, Edie and Natalie, you’ve convinced me NOT to sign up for Facebook. I don’t want another social network I’m just going to regret getting involved with, and I already have two MySpaces set up (one for me and one for Penny).
Natalie, I can see how fighting werewolves and vampires and gardening would leave you no time for social networks! I had no idea you were into fighting werewolves. Hmm, did I misread your message? 😉
I think, as writers, we get so very concerned about doing everything we can to get our names out there, but when having a MySpace account or Facebook account or what-have-you amounts to just denying or approving friend requests, I’m not sure it’s worth the time suck. However, I must say, I do connect with some writer buddies on MySpace rather than through email, and Penny got a week of promo (interview, excerpts, etc.) out of a connection made through her MySpace account. But! Too many networks = Major Time Suck. MTS. It’s an epidemic.
I LOVE Facebook. Tried MySpace at least twice, and just couldn’t really figure it out. Also, I don’t like the interface.
But Facebook is fantastic (for me, anyway). I’ve found several people with whom I’d lost touch for years and it’s so cool catching up on their lives. Plus, a lot of family is there too, so I see pics etc. I don’t even mind the
“new” Facebook.
Just recently started to Twitter and manage it through FB, so it’s not really an extra step, but an easy way to put brief notes on my blog in case I don’t have time for a full post.
Oh, sure, Teresa, go and make Facebook sound interesting. Try and tempt me!!
I hereby forbid myself to try Facebook OR Twitter until at least 2009.
LOL – it CAN be a timesink, that’s for sure. I try to limit myself to a couple of visits a day. But if you do join in 09, be sure to search for me and add me as a Friend:)
Definitely, Teresa.
Natalie, I can see how fighting werewolves and vampires and gardening would leave you no time for social networks! I had no idea you were into fighting werewolves. Hmm, did I misread your message?
No, you’re very astute! LOL
I just don’t do the werewolves/vampires etc thing. Though I do have LiveGifts and play WordScraper (the successor to Scrabulous).