Connect to the Social Networks...

Recently, our office's big boss, Peter Maquera, President/CEO of SPi Technologies, Inc., has launched his campaign of gaining popularity. I received an email invitation to his Facebook account in my office email. You might think that we're that close enough to send FB invitations, but actually, it is not only me that was invited thru email. The invitation was sent thru out all SPi accounts. Being too busy at work, I ignored the invitation. Whatever his reason/s for his invites, I just don't have this time to "grab the opportunity to know him". By the way, I don't have a Facebook account (as of now). The next day, the office's bulletin boards are filled with his Facebook invitation. This was for the "benefit" of those who wished to know more of him but was not unable to receive the email because they have no email accounts. The third day, he rose again, sending another invite, telling the world about his recent trip to the historic Corregidor Islands. Wow, I said to myself. I wondered how much it costs him to be there, while most of his employees labor through the recent holidays. Oh I just wished he will fund an outing for us. Still, I ignored the invite.

I have about only four (4) regular social networking accounts: Friendster, Multiply, Imeem and Plurk. Two of these sites are banned by the office. The other half, not yet. I don't know why and how the President/CEO of our company become the first top ranked corporate official to violate (or urge to violate) the office's computer related regulations. Though he have not urged the employees to use the office's computer to log in to Facebook, he had just shown to all to use the office's resources for personal benefit. I don't know the real implications on this, but I think it's quite unethical for an official to break his own rules.

Now back to social networking...

Actually, my 4 regular social network accounts only become regular because I managed to have many connections on them. Other countless non-regular accounts came from Hi5, Fanbox, WRM and many others which I really can't remember. My older brother, Kuya Toto, has been inviting me to join Tagged long time. My office mate, Tom, also urged me to join, luring me with his beautiful connections. My other office mate, Criz, urged me to use join Facebook. I remember, our neighbor Jonathan, invited me to join MySpace. Dneero has been advocating Twitter. I received many more personal invites I cannot remember them all anymore. What the heck, why invite me if you can see me everytime?

I like the concept of social networking sites, enabling you to connect to long time nowhere to be seen friends, know more friends and sharing media with them (or even play with them). But actually this concept has been around long time eversince the birth of widespread email and online chat. Social networking sites were just pimped versions of these two. What's more, the more sites you join, the more spam messages fill your email inbox. Why? Because most of these sites are free, most of them earn by selling your email addresses to third party websites a.k.a. spam generating sites. Also be careful when posting photos online. They can be used by posers. The worst, porn and prostitute sites might also use your sexy photos to lure customers. My recommendation, don't post anything you don't really want to share. And don't even assume it's protected by a private folder or account.