social networks

In case you hadn't realised yet that joining Facebook is not the best way to protect your identity, the BBC have kindly demonstrated that even if you restrict your profile to 'friends', swathes of that info may still go walkabouts if one of those 'friends' installs (note: not just if you install) a dodgy application.  What I think is particularly impressive about the Facebook security model is that they allow any old application to be runi, with no auditing, from any server on the Net.  But it should be OK, b

Since it seems to be the season for Facebook-baiting (and why not?), if you like your critiques of Web 2.0 served with a side order of conspiracy theory you may enjoy the Guardian piece on the politics of the other two directors (and major funders) of Facebook.  You'll note the Guardian correction at the top, for a rather strange anachronism within the article.  I guess the writer got rather carried away with the thrill of the chase, if you'll pardon the mixed metaphor.

Hardly balanced but a determined poke at the sustainability question around social networkingi sites.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/31/myspace_fb_comscore_drop/

A less 'attack dog' approach, with some of the stats is here, further comment here.

If you can't make money out your users then at least use them for slave labour:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/24/fb_translation/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/24/bbc_murdoch_myspace/

and again

BBC Worldwide has struck a deal with MySpace to make programmes including Doctor Who and Top Gear available to the website's 100 million-plus global users.

The partnership will initially see around 150 clips of BBC programming made available online via a dedicated BBC Worldwide channel on the social networkingi website's video service, MySpaceTV.

"Social networkingi websites like Facebook and MySpace have been among the most successful business ventures of recent years.

Facebook alone has 50 million members worldwide and is now valued at £7.5bn.

Inevitably, imitators have sprung up with variations on the theme, eager to tap into this lucrative market."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7153637.stm