Wired: A Social Network Primer

Here's a good quick read from Wired for the social networking uninitiated and newbies alike. Natalie Del Conte takes a thumbnail look at Wired News' top social network picks: MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Hi5, Craigslist, LinkedIn, and Friendster.

Check out the full read, but here's a taste:

• MySpace gets props for its 2008 presidential candidates page and news page, though "it's doubtful that its users will ever take MySpace that seriously."

• Since half of Facebook's users are out of college, it will remain useful for connecting with friends long after college is over.

• Nearly half of LinkedIn's members are over 34, so they are in a position to hire you when you need a job. Once you make contact with them, Del Conte recommends that you "invite your new contacts to Facebook—it'll make them feel young and hip."

• Bebo is for music lovers, Friendster still has 47 million users in 75 countries despite its rep as a has-been social network, and Hi5 is the number-one social network in Mexico, South America, and Central America.

Gina Hughes takes a closer look at Facebook's current popularity, and whether it will remain the "It" social network for long.

LINK: Education 2.0: The Best Social Networks for Students