Technically Speaking

There is one blogger out there that seems to sense what I was referring to with the local guys who run ImThere. I have already termed it to them as the next generation of social networking.

No longer will you have to be a part of a big group, but smaller groups that have the same services will be more of what the future entails. Now many of you are use to your Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, etc. and I’m not saying they will go extinct, but what I am saying is the proliferation of the niche social network will take over.

Many feel that just because I’m older, it’s not the case. That my ideas are way past their prime and the internet is passing me by.

I was at a social gathering at my club this evening and I had the pleasure to talk to some of the younger people who just joined. Younger being in their early to mid 30’s.

Well if you believe that, than I have a bridge to sell you in Las Vegas! You see, the perception that is sold online to the masses is that everytime MySpace or Facebook has a conference announcing something, that it’s the be all and end all to everyone else. That is not the case, as they only have a bigger audience.

Audience’s are a funny thing actually. Most of the time, you could have a huge audience and if you are lucky to hit 7% of the people there; meaning you strike some sort of bond with them or click, you are lucky. The other 93% will be answering their e-mail, text messaging, or bored and only there in body and not mind.

So you now have 7% of the 1,000 people in your audience. So approximately 70 people are there really paying any attention. It’s all just a big percentage game. A good example is today’s announced Facebook new way of advertising. All good, all nice to hear. But out of that big audience, how many naysayers will hit the web on their own blog in a few hours?

Now while I agree with the direction they are going, is it something that only they can accomplish? Not at all. Many companies are applauding the efforts and announcement, but yet many companies exist that are pushing towards a new advertising model.

The big difference is that other companies are pushing towards that model world wide live. Not enclosed in some social sphere that if you read the linked article at the top, it is becoming widely known as a love hate relationship by the hand that feeds them.

The conversation really got into a frenzy when we go to the love hate relationship people have with Facebook and MySpace,

So there you have it. The 30 somethings are tired of the big groups. The big groups are making announcement after announcement in the past week, and if you think hard - maybe you get that only 7% of the people are listening and paying attention.

Technically Speaking, that 7% quote of course goes back to the man - DLR. Quite amazing that I actually see the application of the 7% rule in real life situations in the 21st century we all live in.

DailyHub, looks like a Reddit, Digg, slashdot, etc… clone for business social content. Currently, the #7 item says “Scrap Your Resume, Start Blogging, and Let the Jobs Find You“. Pretty good statement there on how some people do things. One of those people would be this person that is typing this.

One of the things that really is interesting to watch is how business is evolving at a pace like well, nobodies business. I mean, 10 years ago, would you have envisioned doing your financial transactions online? It appears from the report that we push over on Lending Club (Social Personal Finance Report), that is how business will be conducted; sooner than later!

p2p lending is one of those areas that is exploding. It has taken off literally in the past year, check out Lending Club (need that Facebook account for that link) the company I work for. If you have a Facebook account, you can add the application right to your profile in a few simple steps. Whether you want money, or have money to share, it’s a great concept.

Technically Speaking, business is online and this site above (DailyHub) is a good way to see what is hot in business social content. This site was sent over by none other than my long time supporter, MBG.

The question of the day is - Can Blogs Become a Big Source of Jobs? - and I think they can. Maybe not a big source, but they will become a “new job market”. In fact they already are. Now of course there will always be the Robert Scoble and Michael Arrington elite class, but I think I’m not doing that shabby as a social media person.

Technically Speaking, it’s time to watch the Sopranos last show now!

I like what I’m reading here. It is now being taught as a college course, and that can only mean that soon we will see Rex Dixon teaching.

Ok, maybe I am dreaming, but I can see Robert Scoble, Mike Arrington, Allen Stern, Pete Cashmore, Marshall Kirkpatrick, and many other big time bloggers making guest appearances all over the country.

If you currently are in disbelief of what you are reading, then read the next part here

The 90 students who take the spring 2008 class will study social media like blogs and wikis – while they themselves are studied by other communications researchers. They’ll complete some group assignments in virtual world simulation Second Life, and others in a traditional online forum. Ms. Barnes said she plans to look at whether the latter’s “no-nonsense” look leads to more-organized work, or if Second Life, “where you’ve got the visuals and the stray people,” better stimulates discussion.

Schools not traditionally known for their technology programs are also venturing into the study of social computing. For the past year, Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas has funded two research projects that use social-networking site Facebook to examine student retention trends, in part because the school noticed its students were already spending so much time on the site, said K.B. Massingill, executive director of the division that funded the research. A group of undergraduate students also studied faith-related conversations in Facebook and MySpace and presented their findings to what Mr. Massingill called an unusually well-attended faculty session. “We filled up the room,” he said.

Technically Speaking, if you need a good opening act, you know where to grab the siz’lator of the overkill hype machine known simply as Rex “Duff” Dixon. I’ll even wear the cowboy hat. Anyone still remember that one?

The government is starting to get deeper involved in the internet. It’s not because they want too. It is now because they have too. When you have 39 year old males having oral sex done by a 14 year old in a mall parking lot, and 22 year old men entering houses after dark to have relations with an 11 year, you can obviously see there is an issue.

A new study by doctor’s show the internet is one of the most dangerous places for children. This isn’t only hysteria being built up as the article states. The hysteria has now entered the halls of government.

In Connecticut, the bill sailed through two committees and is awaiting a vote by the full legislature. In North Carolina, the legislature’s Judiciary Committee is scheduled to address the matter in the coming days. Similar proposals have been introduced by state lawmakers in New York and Georgia, while a legislator in Illinois has proposed blocking access to social-networking sites in public libraries and schools.

It’s time that we all quit ignoring or downplaying the fact at hand. The government can and will shut it all down. Don’t think so?

I bet you are the same people that believed that all of our soldiers would be home from Iraq by now. Don’t put it past the government. Just when you thought you knew it all is the sub-title or description of what is posted here on this blog. Quit sticking your head in the sand looking for the next something cool like firewitter.

Technically Speaking, social networks, online interactive sites, and other sites better clean up their act now before it’s too late. If you don’t think the government has the power to shut it all down and take it away, just ask any National Guard person on station at some check point outside the supposed safe Green Zone, Baghdad, Iraq. Go back to sleep now, you have been informed.

I like it. I agree, we are heading into social media 2 or SM2 now. With twitter, the abundance of social networks, and video and audio media available online today; this is now SM2. Blogging is not dying off. 15.5 million or 71 million blogs, many are dead spots which is a no brainer in coming to that conclusion.

My personal blog is pretty dead at this time. The point is, SM2 is here. The over proliferation of video and television content has stated that quite clear. TV shows that are “net” only. Exclusive interviews, done “net” only. Justin.tv, UStream.tv, rex.tv — you won’t see that on regular television! You are shaking your head right now and saying, “Rex, dude, that’s video!”

Exactly. What comes with this video? Another blog. Case in point. It’s not dying off. It’s only getting bigger and better. SM2 will be where you can click once, blog, videocast, podcast - Done! That will be the future mashup built by some company.

Created next week? In a month? Or possibly already being thought of and in stealth mode. Maybe the founder of that stealth company just read that. Maybe that person just became really paranoid and IM a co-founder ,”Dude, that Rex can read freakin’ minds!”

Technically Speaking, the web is moving forward, blogging has always been here. It’s just easier now. I remember a long time ago, in the far away 1990’s blogging was there. It just was kind of “manual labor” blogging. No type, push, click, boom.

We all have now heard about the events yesterday at Virginia Tech. Pete of Mashable brought up a point, while also giving out good information, of should this even have a social spin to it? It’s quite obvious that it already has one from the cell phone footage below, as well as the Facebook groups you can join. Other groups are mentioned also.

The Mexican Earthquake was more live on UStream.tv and twitter the other evening. I believe as sad as this event is, we are now officially in a new age of social media.

Event planning site called Socialzr ripped online yesterday morning. Now I was over there on VB reading about them, and it seems like they are getting shredded in the comments. The last time I saw Jonathan Abrams after Friendster, was on some YouTube video about a month ago. I thought he was a bar owner these days? I guess once you get a taste of the online world, no shot or beer is going to make it better.

One of the comments I just read on the above post states, and I quote,

and _holy god_ there are *6 pages* of shit to clickthrough before I can even start using it!

If you think that one is bad, this person here pulled no punches at all, again quote,

what is this fool thinking? trying to compete in the SocNet space, yet when you go to the website, it’s completely walled off to non-users? Whatever happened to browsing?

Socializr is NOT Facebook. He needs to rethink his strategy.

I think that it could be possible that maybe JA needs to rethink this Socializr schtick.

Technically Speaking, I haven’t even bothered looking. I mean seriously, what event do I have to plan these days? Even if I was going to plan one, just take a look to the right. I have a good feeling that most of you know what event planning site I would be using. It makes sense to go with something that works and is simple to use. That 6 pages statement really turned me off from even bothering to look at the site. I do not have the time to sort through 6 pages!

Since everything is social networking these days, it was only a matter of time before the completely locked down social network started popping up. Famster is one that is geared towards safety and security. The article goes on to state, that this may be the thing to hinder them in the end.

Famster has a lot of promise to become a popular family networking site. Safety seems to be its chief concern, which may help and harm the site’s success.

I was reading Om’s article on the whole social news of this generation. The one quote that sort of grabbed me was the following:

Given the heavy emphasis on the “hook-ups” on MySpace, I am not sure how much of this new service is going to find traction (okay sports and gossip news might work, but then who the hell knows what works on MySpace), but it does add up to an interesting trend.

This led me to think that the veterans of the blogosphere are now starting to get old and set in their ways. I will say this only once, Om and I both have life experiences from the same time period. I recall the times back then also. With that being said, I also have not shunned the times at hand.

MySpace appears to be a mystery? No, it is not a mystery. The real issue is that if you let the technology and terminology pass you by, then of course you won’t get it. If you don’t try to assimilate, then don’t expect to understand it. I’m not slamming Om by any means, on some items such as where he has made his forte lately - the whole telco/telcom industry as of late, he will blow me away as I have focused less on that area.

As far as the new social technologies that are out there today, I tend to jump in whether or not the younger crowds welcome me. I am a vet of the online world. There is a line in a song that pretty much describes Rex Dixon to a “T” - “I’m gonna trade this life for fortune and fame / I’d even cut my hair and change my name.”

My MySpace page has the tagline - “Been there, Done that, Better Then YOU!” - it’s tongue in cheek ego boosting for the most part, and actually started out as a line from a song I was helping to write and produce for my buddy Trashy Feelgood. I find it very true and to the point about me in general when Trash walked up to me and said, “Yo, Dixon I have this idea for a song… here is what I have so far… “

Technically Speaking, before anyone asks, the answer is - Trashy and I did not complete that song before he moved up to Chicago. Yes, the above was basically a Rex Dixon free form ramble!