Weekly Digest of the Social Networking Space: Dec 11, 2008

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

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Web Strategy Summary
This was a very busy week, so focus on this summary to get the highlights: Facebook connect extends, Google friend connect in hot pursuit. Bebo relaunches with new design encouraging social sharing, promises upgrades in near future. Ning removes adult content from website, leaving opportunities for others. The big trend? many systems are connecting to each other, data, and influence spread

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Mobile: MySpace launches live streaming video
Just a week after Google announced it’s live streaming video features for mobile devices, enabling users to access shows on demand from their mobile devices

Trends: Is Social Networking Sinking?
This contrary view is an important one to revenues, layoffs and valuations, social networks may be waning. The other key measurement to look at should be adoption and usage –I expect them to increase during a recession.

Contest: HiveLive’s contests to help Tigers
This promotional contest, is a great way to tell the world about HiveLive’s flexible platform, and to do some good in the world. The winner for this contest is going to help Conservation International build a community site to benefit Tigers.

Security: Risks of Social Networks
This very long PDF discloses the risks of the social networking space, with a slight legal bent. I read as much as I could, it’s a bit dense. Takeaway: most don’t realize the personal, financial, legal risks involved as social networks intersect business, personal, and family lives. On a similar note, this very scary post demonstrates how easy it is to create a fake account and dupe people.

Redesign: Bebo’s Redesign Encourages social sharing
Much akin to the trend of newsfeed designs that were initially lead by Facebook, Bebo ads new features in their overhaul, perhaps most importantly is that they made promises to improve the major features, applications, and to integrate with AOL.

Vision: Where is Facebook headed?
In a classic Techcrunch style, Arrington interviews Mark Zuckerberg on his vision for products, revenue, developers, and valuation (oh and profile pics). With Facebook focused on so many different areas, this leaves questions in the minds of brands –as they are unsure where to focus.

Products: Physical Meets Virtual
At some conferences in Amsterdam, a new physical tool called a ‘Poken‘ has emerged that allows people to connect and trade information. What ever happened to Palm Pilot beaming?

Security: Facebook Virus Tears Through Network
The virus that we saw last week was apparently a strain of a previous one, I received one of the messages and am now very cautious about what to click on.

Predictions: What if Facebook Connect and Amazon were tied
Shiv Singh from Razorfish demonstrates what could happen if social networks tied with eCommerce and other websites in order to make web experiences social.

Connect: Pluck connects with Facebook
Facebook Connect allows third party sites to become social, and Pluck (of Demand Media) has initiated this with SFGate and other sites. This means leaving a comment on SFGate can now show on your Facebook news page, if you choose to do so. Understand what this means for Corporate Websites in the future.

Case Study: Failed Social Networks
This list gives the losers of the social networking space, starting with Wal-Mart’s the hub. Expect this list to grow during the recession as revenues dry up.

Identity: Facebook Connect Across the Web
Mark blogs about Facebook connect, which is designed to connect websites with their social graph on Facebook, the impacts to brands are astounding –corporate websites can now be social. Of course, the competition between Google and Facebook will rage over your friendships. Need more info? Watch this video to learn more.

Ning to remove porn for networks
I met with the Ning folks yesterday, which they briefly discusses removing adult content from their network, rSitez moves in for the pluckings and offers migration options.

Culture: Drunken Photos Cost Women her College Degree
This poor soul made a bad choice in uploading photos and patronizing her teacher –resulting in her loosing her college degree. Takeaway? Use permissions, realize that uploading is publishing and don’t be an idiot.

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

Hungry For Social Networking Stats? Then you should see my collection of Social Networks Site Usage: Visitors, Members, Page Views, and Engagement by the Numbers in 2008? Bookmark it, then share it with others as I continue to update it.