Recently, two of my friends urged my to join another social networking site Facebook, citing that it has much more features than Orkut. Now, I get invited to join a new networking site every few days (as I guess would most of you), but it is difficult to maintain membership on multiple sites, so usually I decline or ignore the mails. However, since this time the recommendation has come from reliable sources, and as a personal note rather than an automated mail, I am pondering over it.
For me, a networking site would only be useful, if I am likely to find people I would like to remain in, or re-establish contact with. Frankly speaking, I had not heard of Facebook before, so I am trying to determine its popularity by how many of my friends use it. So, I have requested my Orkut friends to respond back, telling me
- if they also use facebook, alongwith orkut
- if they have friends who use facebook
- a comparison of the two, if possible
Meanwhile, I'll be glad to hear anything anyone has to say on this.
For me, a networking site would only be useful, if I am likely to find people I would like to remain in, or re-establish contact with. Frankly speaking, I had not heard of Facebook before, so I am trying to determine its popularity by how many of my friends use it. So, I have requested my Orkut friends to respond back, telling me
- if they also use facebook, alongwith orkut
- if they have friends who use facebook
- a comparison of the two, if possible
Meanwhile, I'll be glad to hear anything anyone has to say on this.
11 comments:
I am using Orkut for last one month and I agree with you that one can find old friends there. But its not very safe for open communication. I already got some messages which I dont want to share publicly, which is why I restricted Orkut use again.
My Greek friends asked me to join Facebook, but I have not joined it yet, will soon join and if I like would continue.
I think the success of social networking depends on the nature of society. For an example Linked in is very popular in Northern European Countries like Poland, its safe and secure, whereas Orkut is India's no 1/2 site coz common people want to share many things. I know some of my friends who read scrap book of 50 friends regularly. Its just unbelievable.
Indian junta uses orkut the most. Americans use facebook and Myspace. So though i have profiles on all these three i rarely do visit myspace or facebook. Somehow i like orkut better than facebook. Myspace is lots of Ads, but is fun as u could change the background, add videos and javascript. But yeah my vote is to Orkut.
@Pijush: Thanks for your response. I agree with you that it is not safe for open communication, as the "scrapbook" is open for public viewing. But then, I think it is a mistake of the senders' part to write a private message in a public space. If the nature of the message is that one would not like just about anyone to read it, use the "send message" option, which will deliver the message to your orkut mailbox, or your mail. The best way, of course, is to send a mail :-)
And yes, the kind of interface that Orkut offers, people do read each other's scrapbook. And I agree how can people find time to read the scraps of 50 others?! But at the same time, I also find it hard to believe that half of the junta at my office is so addicted to it, that they write scraps to each other, though they sit on the same floor (or the same building at least).
@Maverick: that is my impression too. That is why I prefer Orkut, since I am more likely to find people here, than on other sites.
I've an Orkut account - and have stopped using it now...
Though we can find good old friends, it's total time-waster...
once upon a time i'd an orkut account with the name of delhidreams... *sigh*... but i deleted it in fury over a beautiful girl not responding to my amorous messages... *bigger sigh* and i also thought of it as a total time waste (instead of time pass)... and then when i found dee, and urged her to be on the blogmap and then when i really found dee, then i made an orkut account again... i hope it doesn't get deleted again... *stupid smile*
btw, i've an account on facebook also and i like its interface more than orkut's, but then who has the time in the world to manage two sites when you cant manage even your life, so i decided to leave the matter here and now and without complicating the matter i would request you to find a 'thinkpot' on orkut with an angel and a devil playing togethr so that atleast we can connect and atleast we can go to the book fair together next time in february...*cheers*
ahtppyke
[For people who are not familiar with either, well, what are you doing online ? ;-)]
Ha Ha.. I think the sentence is custom made for people like me. :-)
I have NEVER used any of these which you've mentioned or come up in the comments section. Now, don't hit me. Ouch !
Three years back I had my 1st account of online mssging. That was MSN. That too b'coz my client sitting in a different country wanted to have a one-to-one chat with us. Then after sometime I opened one account in Yahoo for the same purpose.
I think I am too naive to use these services personally. Get cheated very fast. I don't want to pretend to be somebody or expect somebody to be one. Moreover, I don't have time to go chatting.
Oh oh Cuckoo, you are out of this world ! Seriously !
Yes gmail account also has a chatting facility which again is used mainly for official purpose. For personal things, I prefer the mail services.
So, the gist is.. there ARE still people like me in this bad bad world. :-)
@Prashanth: That is quite a valid point. On the other hand, you can chose how much time you want to spend [waste ;-)] on the site :-)
@Adi: LOL at your "story" :-)
Cheers!
@Cuckoo: I have no intention of hitting anyone :-) I will just act surprised :-D
I created a yahoo account when I was in college, and used it for chat (which was a total timepass), but now I hardly ever chat on Yahoo. However, these networking sites are different in that their capabilities are over and above online chat. They allow you to search for people and connect with them, after you have re-established the contact, you can exchange messages through mail, of course. You are not required to cheat anyone, nor can you get cheated if you refuse to acknowledge messages from strangers.
For example, I have made an account at Orkut with my real name, as have hundreds of people I personally know. I was able to get in touch with many friends from school and college, with whom I had totally lost contact. I ignore messages from people I do not know, and is some sicko persists, I just "report abuse".
I do have a account in facebook after I got an invitation from one of my friends. Although I haven't gone much deeper into it and is not a regular there but it seems more easier & flexible than Orkut from the overall look of things!
@Kalyan: Thanks for the response. You are one of the rare few who like Facebook better :-)
I'll post a summary of my "survey" soon :-)
I am yet to understand what would make me to love facebook :) as I have mentioned here.
http://techtracer.com/2007/10/26/what-makes-facebook-win-over-orkut/
I love Orkut though very much.
Less than 1.5 months after your initial post and facebook is clearly (objectively) the better choice.
goto www.alexa.com for pure facts. Orkut has levelled off and actually declined in the past few months. Facebook is growing exponentially and with good reason.
Always thought orkut was a bit of a mess, myspace even more so.
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