Connected like never before
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44 | NewScientist | 16 September 2006 www.newscientist.com DAVID PLUNKERT Connected like never before Living online For millions of people, especially among the under-25s, online culture is becoming the only culture that matters. Take the plunge, and the world becomes one massive network in which users band together to share just about everything. Chatrooms and newsgroups have evolved into social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook. Whatever your interest, from biology to extreme sports, there’s a website where you can share your thoughts with the like-minded. But what is the culture really about? Where will it end up? Too early to say, perhaps, but one thing we do know is that taking part means being prepared to behave in some very different ways. Online networking means revealing things about yourself for all the world to see. Your friends may appreciate it, but what about college admissions tutors or future employers? And what is being permanently connected going to do to us? Are we seeing the emergence of a hive mind? Or is it just a new way of maximising your individuality? Welcome to New Scientist’s guide to the social networking revolution.
Transcript of Connected like never before
44 | NewScientist | 16 September 2006 www.newscientist.com
DAVI
D PL
UNKE
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Connected like never before
Living online
For millions of people, especially among the under-25s, online culture is becoming the only culture that matters. Take the plunge, and the world becomes one massive network in which users band together to share just about everything. Chatrooms and newsgroups have evolved into social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook. Whatever your interest, from biology to extreme sports , there’s a website where you can share your thoughts with the like-minded.
But what is the culture really about? Where will it end up? Too early to say, perhaps, but one thing we do know is that taking part means being prepared to behave in some very different ways. Online networking means revealing things about yourself for all the world to see. Your friends may appreciate it, but what about college admissions tutors or future employers? And what is being permanently connected going to do to us? Are we seeing the emergence of a hive mind? Or is it just a new way of maximising your individuality?
Welcome to New Scientist’s guide to the social networking revolution.
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www.newscientist.com 16 September 2006 | NewScientist | 45
This is your space p 46
I’ll have to ask my friends p 48
You wouldn’t tell your mother p 50
Short story by Bruce Sterling p 52
It could all be so much better p 54
Over to you p 56
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