Matt Bush

CS73N

May 25, 2007

There are many sites that, like Social Network Advisor, analyze the functions, quality, and effectiveness of social networking sites. All sites contain similar content, such as data on social networking sites, explanations of how issues such as online bullying occur, and cautions for social networking practices. However, most sites in this space take different approaches to their content and address different audiences, to the extent that no two sites have exactly the same content. Here are some examples of sites in this space that I examine:

• Xanga Safety, a safety portal for users of the blog site Xanga
• Wired Safety, a nonprofit informational resource
• Social Networking Watch, an analysis blog

My site and the sites in my space are all informational sites, not commercial or entertainment sites. They all present facts, statistics, and research to help people make wise decisions about site use. They do not compete based on any sorts of fees or user benefits, so they can only compete and compare based on the quality of their information. My site, Social Network Advisor, has the following informational advantages over its peers, explained below:

• Unbiased content
• Comprehensive site analysis
• Technically savvy approach

Unbiased content

Social Network Advisor is not biased, and promises in its policy to not blindly promote specific sites, but rather provide analytic judgment. Many of its competitors promote strict child-safety agenda, and while my site recognizes that this is a critical issue, it is ultimately meant to look at the policies with open eyes, not condemn sites for being dangerous. Moreover, my site seeks to provide its users with links to the opinions of social networking websites themselves, of their users, and of concerned citizens so that my site’s users can get a close look at every side of issues that my site explores. The best decision for social network use varies a lot on the user’s cultural, family, and school structure, so the best thing to do for the user is to give them just information.

Xanga Safety effectively talks about important topics applicable to many social networking settings. But it does not analyze site use and policies for any sites other than Xanga, which is important for a thorough analysis of privacy policies. WiredSafety provides its users with broad and unbiased content evident, but this is only evident after a full look through the site. The site’s front page is glaring with phrases describing risky and dangerous situations on the Internet, clearly meant to catch the attention of an audience purely concerned about safety, not curious about the full story of social networks. Compared to these sites, Social Network Advisor provides broad and balanced content for any approach to social networking sites, including the “concerned user” approach that these competing sites cater to.

Comprehensive site analysis

My site looks at all features and issues of social networking sites before judging them. It understands that a site’s age, history, population, and features are all important in determining how it compares to other sites, with safety standards and otherwise. Other sites in my space restrict their topics to just privacy and safety recommendations: this is good enough for a user-oriented site, but not a full-scale analysis site like mine. My site sets reasonable expectations of site’s policies by looking at other concerns and needs that they face.

WiredSafety succeeds at analyzing a broad range of sites and topics, but it does not explore social networking site development given this analysis. Social Networking Watch is seemingly more oriented towards a technical analysis of social networking sites separated from a safety agenda; however, it seems to mostly consist of news links rather than original analysis.

Technically savvy approach

Social Network Advisor was created and is overseen by a technically savvy student researcher who has a lot of background with social networking sites, and is at an age where social networking is deeply rooted into culture and communication. My site intends on studying social networking sites and understanding their potential rather than condemning them for their risks. We understand what kind of sites and features are technologically and economically viable, and that improper use of the Internet and data leaks are sometimes unavoidable.

This knowledgeable approach to social networking websites gives Social Network Advisor an edge over competing sites. For example, WiredSafety does not focus on technical topics or research analysis, simply providing content for an audience of young, vulnerable social network users. It gives advice and recommendations to users, not to social network companies and developers. Thus, it doesn’t use the data or power it has to the full potential.