With the advent of Web 2.0 social networking websites have begun to explore varied forms of interaction and expression. Participants of web-based social networks have begun to expect an increased richness in the content that they share with friends and acquaintances.
Increasing acceptance of online networking and with users involving themselves for great lengths of time, designers have started looking at methods to provide greater intimacy and more 'real' ties between people. This has seen the growth of social network websites that focus on specific context such as music (
last.fm), shopping (
zebo.com ), craftspeople (
designstolove.com). These context specific networks have grown to be very particular with sites catering to people who love shoes (
sneakerplay.com), Indian cricket fans (
sixer.tv) social notes for students (
stu.dicio.us) and others. (
www.socialint.com)
Through the increased exposure to people from around the world, and sharing content and comments there is also a growing need for defining identity which transcends the traditional notions of your nation, school or locality. People increasingly need to construct themselves as an eclectic mix of identities expressed by belonging to interest groups, being part of cults or fan clubs. In the growing tribal system of life where traditional identities are elusive, there is want for creation of the collective by defining rituals and semantic closures over language. Web2.0 entrepreneurs were quick to realize the want for telling collective stories and social constructions of brands through which people can identify themselves. This has resulted in various web-spaces which allow people to share life stories, form collective narratives or 'social biographies' of our world. Also, like always, these new innovations on the web allow for family and friends living geographically apart to connect and maintain a close link, by sharing life through anecdotes.
social biography networks have been growing and several websites provide services which range from constructing a social-biography of products such as the Apple Macintosh (
folklore.com ) to Dandelife (
dandelife.com) which allows people to construct and share their biographies in rich media (with support of services such as
Flikr.com and youTube.com). Previously mentioned sites such as
Platial.com also provide many of the services that are promoted by social biography networks.
MySpace.com, the leader in online social networking provides many features for lifecasters ( Dandelife.com/info/lifecasting) and allows for selective sharing of blogs, images, contacts, videos etc.
Dandelife has talked of a business model where people will be able to license portions of their online biographies for branding or for use as case studies. This sheds line on the blurring lines between private lives and work, and also the extent to which corporate sponsors may reach to personalize their offerings. Dandeline gives you the option to make your biography private, and ensures that the you get to negotiate the terms of the license (with Dandelife as mediator). These services will create question if communities and society will allow people to be the final decision makers for selling their private lives, which are also a part of the silent-intimate history we share.
links
www.dandelife.comwww.myspace.comwww.ourStory.comwww.folklore.comwww.wikimapia.comtepofied from
http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/07/13/brand-your-life-story-with-dandelife/http://www.uncovertheinternet.com/lifecasting-with-dandelife/
