There`s no doubt about it that the Internet phenomenon over the past few years has been the steady build up in Social networking sites, and the huge numbers of members they attract.
I suspect though the reasons why people choose to join such sites as Facebook and Twitter are as varied as the members themselves.
Some will genuinely use Social Networking sites purely as a means for conversing with others they really do `know` personally.
Many don`t even have a website of their own, their interest is in keeping in touch, not in showing off their sites.
I have one friend on Facebook, for instance, who is currently touring Thailand and other places in South East Asia, then will be moving on to New Zealand, then plans to end up in Australia after getting a work permit for 12 months.
Being on Facebook means he can communicate very easily with his family and friends in other places around the globe.
He can shoot photographs on his travels for others to see from wherever they are located.
In this situation Social Networking is a great aid in helping people keep in touch.
Other people, however, use Facebook and Twitter more for promoting their sites, hoping that other users will click their links and visit their sites.
And, to a certain extent, that does work.
Especially if others are in a similar `group` with the same interests is this a good way to communicate ideas.
Private messages are able to be sent from one Twitterer to another, suggesting the latest this or that.
The biggest problem I see is that any Social Networking site can get very spammy over time.
Some members might send out too many personal messages, post nothing but links to their own sites, and in general contribute little of much real value.