Social Networking Sites

First thing's first, what the heck is a social networking site? A social networking site is, by definition, a website wherein people can form communities based on common interests, goals, or activities. These websites are also a great place to make new friends and learn about different activities and cultures. Many social networking sites begin with a personal profile that will include information such as your name, age, location, interests, and give you a space for a short biography. These sites offer many features, from chat and blogging to email, video sharing, file sharing, discussion groups and more.

Got it all figured out now? Now that you understand what a social networking site is, let's explore the top five sites on Gamergirl's list.

Number Five: WAYN (Where Are You Now?)

WAYN is a website for people ages 18+ who caters to people who like to travel and meet others who share that interest. Creating a profile is easy, and from there you can venture out and make new friends. You have the ability to see where in the world each of your friends is, and to track their travels, as well as find out when they're traveling to your area. Also, you can find people who are traveling to your area via search ability. If you like to travel, are interested in meeting others who travel frequently, or just want to find someone new to meet who is from another part of the world but coming to a town near you, then WAYN is the place. I have found that WAYN produces false emails to promote visits to the site, however, and that is one of the reasons it is sitting at the number five spot. The other reason I rank it this low is the sheer overload of information and junk the site contains. Whatever happened to K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid?)?

Number Four: Yahoo! 360°

Yahoo! 360° is a networking function of Yahoo, which is still in its beta phases. Your profile stems from your Yahoo! ID, and requires you to be 18+. You may add and invite your friends, create a profile, and post blogs via this service. Most all of Yahoo's services are linked to Yahoo! 360°, so if you already have a Yahoo account, you're halfway ready to use Yahoo! 360°. I have a 360° account, but I honestly haven't checked it in over six months. I've found that 90% of my friends are in the same boat. Yahoo! 360° ranks number four on my list because, quite frankly, it's become a set it and forget it site for me, with no real gain or input. Too many of my friends frequent other more popular venues.

Number Three: Collarme.com

Collarme.com is a social networking site of a whole different breed from the others you'll see on this list. For adults only, Collarme.com is a site devoted to those who indulge and live in the BDSM lifestyle. BDSM is an acronym with many meanings, and is a hub all in itself, but the short version is that BDSM involves the giving or taking of control over a person in a safe, sane, consensual manner. This site is NOT for the faint of heart, and is not for everyone. However, if you are into kink and bondage, domination or submission and are looking for a partner, this is the site to join. Creating a profile is easy, and the best features of Collarme.com so far seem to be the mail filter system, which is fully customizable, and the "Who is Viewing Me" option, which shows you not only the screen names of the individuals who have viewed your page, but also the age, location and lifestyle status of the user. This site is also 18+, and is required to comply with all 2257 laws governing the acquisition of age verification, so don't even try it if you're underage.

Number Two: Facebook

What began as a networking site solely for Harvard students has grown to become one of the top ten most visited websites on the internet today (as of September 2007.) Facebook is easy to register to, and even easier to add friends to your inner circle. Their interface is a little confusing at first, but once you figure out what links lead to what, you're golden. The main draw of Facebook is it's sheer amount of features. Dozens of games, profile add-ons, and communication options give Facebook a very interactive feel, while remaining humble in it's lack of flash graphics or overcomplicated menus. Facebook is the popular "First Runner Up" to Myspace and Gay.com, in my opinion - which is what you're here for, right?

Number One: A tie! Myspace.com AND Gay.com

Before you get your collective panties (or briefs/boxers) in a wad, let me explain something to you people. The homosexual community is strong, cohesive, and close-knit. They're also kinky S.O.B's, and the traffic for Gay.com is enormous. Yes, I'm a girl. Yes, I like girls. Yes, I love to hang out with gay men, and Gay.com is the BIGGEST place to do it. I won't say best, because I believe the best place to hang out with anyone is real life, but it's sure convenient. The profile creation process is quite simple, and to protect the youngsters who always try and fake their ages, Gay.com has several processes that cut off access for its non-VIP members. Adult photos are inaccessible by members who have not paid for VIP status.

Competing for the attention that Gay.com receives is Myspace.com. Everyone and their dog know about Myspace, and if you don't, get with the times honey. There are over 200 million accounts registered with Myspace, and that number grows by leaps and bounds daily. Registration is simple, and is open to people of all ages. Users who claim to be 16 or under are automatically placed on Private status, which means that you must add these youngsters to your friends list to access their profile. Myspace has hundreds of features; the primary functions being blogs, video posting and viewing, instant messenger and chat services, photo hosting, and discussion groups. You can also post classified advertisements, search for people, find old classmates and even play Internet games.

In the end, the social networking site or sites you choose to patronize is up to you. You can register for one or all of these sites at no up-front cost. Be sure to read the terms of service and privacy policy of each site before doing anything crazy like posting affiliate links or pornography. I wish you luck in finding new friends, business associates, or hobbyists of your particular flavor!