Thursday, November 22, 2012

Places to Go When You're Sick of Facebook ...


1. Twitter (http://twitter.com/)
Who it's for: People on the run, lovers of brevity 
What We Like: Do you wish you could keep up with your friends without them droning on and on in e-mails or IMs? Twitter gives you that ability, as well as bringing you updates from celebrities, your favorite blogs, or any other user you sign up to "follow." Brevity is key, as posts, aka Tweets, are only 140 characters long at most and basically act like Facebook's status updates. You can update via text message and there's no emphasis on posting pictures or personal information, so it feels a little less stalker-friendly. Then there's always the chance you'll hear about a breaking news story, like the guy who Twittered from the plane that crashed into the Hudson. Talk about excitement!2. Going!(http://newyork.going.com/index.php)
Who it's for: Urban youth who like to go out and do stuff
What we like: Like Outdoorzy.com, this network encourages you to get off the computer and get outside, only in urban areas rather than the woods. User friendly and easy to navigate, Going has listings for a slew of U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. The premise is simple: You create a profile involving your basic interests à la Facebook (bday, fave movies, books, whatever) upload photos (or not), and state your intentions (looking for bros, dating, boozing). Then it gets cool. You get to choose your favorite hangouts and access a comprehensive calendar of upcoming social events in your area. You can add events you plan to attend, see who else is going, invite your bffs, and RSVP to select soirees. Once the site gets an idea of your style, it recommends events for you, and you can check on who else is going. It just might help to get some of your friends on it first if you're not that into meeting strangers.
3. Bakespace (http://www.bakespace.com/)
Who it's for: Cooks of all ages, nice grannies.
What we like: Founded by a cute girl named Babette who wants to make friends and share recipes on the Internet, Bakespace allows users to upload their favorite recipes. Bakers can view the "pantries" -- more or less online recipe boxes -- of other users while swapping tips and faves, browse recipes in a number of categories, and friend other chefs du jour whose recipes they like. It's like a down-home version of Epicurious, where the source isn't Bon Appetit and but Lynette from Chattanooga. Populated mostly by women, this site is recommended for those who want to swap quiche recipes and chat about egg substitutions without getting perved on by lecherous Internet lurkers.
4. Yelp (http://www.yelp.com/)
Who it's for: People who read reviews, don't trust guidebooks, and have opinions. 
What we like: Yelp's conceit is the review -- users write about their local haunts, from bars and boutiques to laundromats and grocery stores. Their assessments then become part of Yelp's arsenal so other browsers can access them and learn about spots to check out or avoid. Members can add friends whose opinions they trust, learn about their faves, and chat with each other. Yelp also features popular events by week and allows users to see who plans to attend them. Like a personalized 'Not For Tourists' guide to everything, Yelp has often steered us to the right places in our home town and beyond. If you have an iPhone, be sure to download the free location-based app that uses the handset's GPS to literally tell you what's cool around you.


5.Dogster (http://www.dogster.com/)
Who it's for: Spike, Buddy, and Chopmer. People who think 'Best In Show' is a documentary.
What we like: Since many dog owners treat their pets like people, why shouldn't pooches get their own profiles? On Dogster, owners create pages for their companions, uploading pictures, video, and stories. Then, they can connect with "Pup Pals" and the dog's family members. Other than pretending to be their pets, members can read advice blogs, find local pet resources, and, browse the profiles by breed, site favorites, and, of course, "puppies only." Adoption of orphaned animals is also encouraged and facilitated on the site. If you're not a dog owner, there's also CatsterAnAmigo, which features a bit of variety, and Hamsterster. Or, if you're looking for some pet owner love, there's dating sitePetPeopleMeet.
6. DanceJam (http://dancejam.com/)
Who it's for: Poppers & Lockers, Krumpers, owners of Hammer pants, anyone who dances in front of their mirror.
What we like: What's not to like? This social networking site blew our minds. Usually celebrity social networking endeavors are unnecessary and nerdy, but MC Hammer has really outdone himself with this one! DanceJam lets users create profiles and then upload videos of themselves busting moves. They can enter their videos in DanceJam Dance-offs and give each other feedback. Users also vote for their favorite videos and determine the fate of fellow dancers, including the site's great braino MC Hammer, who was pitted against his own son in a contest. In another cool feature, the videos link to related clips and original dance videos by established artists. Many of the DanceJam's users are really talented and fun to watch and their videos are endearingly homemade and lo-fi: You can often see dancers' bedroom furniture or kitchens in the background while they get down. For a fun and informative time, you can't touch this.
7.Funny or Die (http://www.funnyordie.com/)
Who It's For: SNL Fans, comedians, anyone bored and not easily offended
What We Like: Another successful celebworking site, Funny or Die is a fun project created by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay where professional and amateur users submit and rate humorous videos. Users determine the fate of the videos: the funny stay and the unfunny die and are sent to the "crypt." Exclusive vids from big name comics are also posted to the site, as are celebrity collabs orchestrated by the Funny or Die team, including the classics "The Landlord" and "Prop 8 - The Musical." As an added bonus, the search features divide videos into "safe for work" and "not safe for work," to help you stay employed. How thoughtful!
8. Snooth (http://www.snooth.com/)
Who it's for: Friendly oenophiles.
What we like: A social network with a very specific focus, Snooth unites people with an interest in wine, from amateurs to experts. Members can review wines, compile lists of their faves, and learn through forums about the finer points of wine drinking. The biggest wine database on the Web, Snooth offers info on vineyards, varietals, and how to score the best wines for your budget, and even generates wine recommendations especially for you. The assessment scale that lets you compare price and user rating is great for weighing your options and experienced drinkers are on hand to guide wine ingénues. The only downside is that the default setting signs you up for e-mail from 3rd party vendors. Uncheck the "Yes, I would like to receive email from relevant Snooth partners" box in "account settings" to avoid inbox bombardment.


9. Geni (http://www.geni.com/)
Who it's For: Families, amateur historians, class projects
What We Like: We've been unnervingly interested in the age-old tradition of the family tree as of late. And conveniently, there's Geni, a site that mixes the old-school family tree with the Internet. It's sort of a collaborative work: Register and start building your tree until you can go no further back in the family history. When you reach a dead end, you e-mail other members of your family to fill in the blanks. Maybe you'll finally meet some famous and wealthy relatives! Also good: The privacy policy is airtight, so your tree can only be seen by family members who you invite to the party. As for e-mail, Geni promises that it is "never shared, never spammed." Really, it's just a matter of getting your elder relatives an e-mail account, if they know what that even means.
10. Outdoorzy (http://www.outdoorzy.com/)
Who it's for: Outdoor enthusiasts from backpackers to windsurfers. Anyone who owns Tevas.
What we like: Outdoorzy offers member-generated product reviews, tips and trips, camping and camaraderie. Befriend other outdoorsmen in your area and trade info on everything from hiking trails to climbing shorts. If none of your friends will come along on that 57-day bike ride you've been planning, maybe you can rustle up some company in the Outdoorzy crew. On the other hand, we're kinda scared to go into the woods with strangers. Isn't that the premise of like every horror movie/scary children's tale? Keep that in mind, okay?


11. CafeMom (http://www.cafemom.com/)
Who it's for: Those with children and those who are expecting. 
What we like: There are plenty of resources for moms out there, but CafeMom gives them something most others don't – companionship. The profiles are similar in many ways to MySpace, so the site's appeal lies in the groups, blogs, and services available to members. One of the most useful is the Answer section, where moms can post, answer, browse, and search for any questions they have. For fun, there are the Showdowns, which pit mother against mother in photo contests such as "cutest couple" and "best baby bump."
12. DeviantART (http://www.deviantart.com/)
Who it's for: Artists, no matter their medium or deviance 
What we like: Being seen or heard is important to even the most tortured artists, and DeviantART is there to help, since not everyone can be shown in a gallery. Members are able to browse or search millions of portfolios in many categories, including digital art, photography, animation, comics, and so on. Like other social networks, members can follow each other, write blog entries, join groups, and post on forums. Best of all, you can find out about contests in your area and hopefully get some greenbacks for your creations. The whole "starving" image is pretty played out.
13. Horseland (http://horseland.com/)
Who it's for: Equine and canine enthusiasts of all ages. 
What we like: Horseland is a combination of a game and a social universe where you breed, train, and show virtual horses and dogs in competitions. You start by creating an avatar and training your animal and then you can participate in Flash-driven games against other users. In your downtime, you can meet people and join clubs to host the contests, though you'll have to look a little harder for mature friends -- most of the players are under 22. It might seem a bit odd at first, but think of it as Second Life only with more ponies and puppies. That doesn't sound so bad, right?
14. Last.fm (http://www.last.fm/)
Who it's for: Music lovers, especially the snobs. 
What we like: Are you bored with your current music library but don't have the time to seek out new jams? Like an advanced Pandora, Last.fm provides music recommendations based on your tastes by keeping track of what you're listening to. You can interact with other users, see their favorites, stream songs, and view events and concerts in your area. If you're a bit paranoid about letting the site see what's on your comp, just make sure to stick to the streaming radio station feature and the 100,000-plus free downloads offered by artists and labels.
15. FilmCrave (http://filmcrave.com/)
Who it's for: Movie buffs, haters of professional critics 
What we like: An award-winning site, FilmCrave's biggest appeal is its simplicity -- movies are rated on a scale of 0.5 to 4 stars and anyone can provide either a short or long review. Users can interact, share favorites, and post on forums in categories about news, plot explanations, rumors, and more. The site doesn't have the interesting info of IMDB or the critics of Rotten Tomatoes, but it's a great way to meet like-minded people and get great movie recommendations.
16. LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/)
Who it's for: The employed, the unemployed 
What we like: How many times have you heard, "It's not what you know, it's who you know"? Well, thanks to LinkedIn, you can forget relying on awkward networking receptions and conferences to branch out in the professional world. Basically, you put your resume and aspirations online and connect with friends, coworkers, or anyone you want to meet professionally. What's especially great is you can see how you might relate to others through varying degrees of connections, as opposed to needing mutual friends to make an acquaintance. If you've had any trouble with your job recently, we suggest checking this site out and adding as many people as you can.


17. Tagged (http://www.tagged.com/)
Who it's for: Singles, adulterers 
What we like: Claiming over 70 million members, Tagged isn't much different from other social networking sites without a niche -- you have a profile, you upload things, people comment on them, and so on. What's unique about it is that somehow it turned into a dating-oriented site where most members are eager and less creeped out by your advances. You can "wink" at other users to let them know you're interested and even the signup page mentions flirting as one of the main member activities. It won't be nearly as private as sites like Match.com, but it's worth a try if you're going the online romance route on the cheap. Good luck.
18. Meetup (http://www.meetup.com/)
Who it's for: People who want to do something, anything. 
What we like: Meetup is a unique network for one reason: Its entire goal is to encourage you to get off the computer and interact with people in person. All you have to do is enter your zip code and interests and Meetup will help you find people to hang out with. The site even helps set up a date and time for the get together, provided you can all agree on it. There are over 46,000 current groups and if you don't find one that suits you, you can start your own. If you'll excuse us, we have to get to our insect appreciation meeting now or we'll never make our tequila tasting later.
19. TimesPeople (http://timespeople.nytimes.com/home/about/)
Who it's for: New York Times readers, obviously 
What we like: Whether you know people who enjoy discussing the news or not, the Times' network is great for sharing and commenting on the paper's stories. The profiles are similar to Twitter in that you find friends and follow their activity. You'll see what stories they're reading and commenting on and then you can make your own recommendations. Even if you're not solely dedicated to the newspaper like some people are, this service is free and easy to use, so you might as well try it. That is, if you can live with your contribution to the death of print journalism.

20. Buzznet (http://www.buzznet.com/)
Who it's for: People who love popular things, those who hope to be popular. 
What we like: Buzznet avoids the traditional social network model by mixing it with music news, artist pages, user videos and photos, and concert listings. What's unique about the site is that member profiles can receive "buzz" from others in the form of views and comments, making you "grow" in popularity. Sure, there's a lot of self-promotion going on here but you can also find lots of really cool people, bands, and groups that you might miss otherwise.

21. Multiply(www.multiply.com)
Who it's for: People who loves to write, seek for friends, downloading mp3,  sharing info with other people.
What We Like: Multiply is your one place for doing more with your media: we take your photos, videos and blog posts to the next level. Share safely. Store permanently. Create beautiful products. There's no better home for everything that matters to you.

22. Youtube (www.youtube.com)
Who it's for: People who loves looking at video. 
What We Like: YouTube is the leader in online video, and the premier destination to watch and share original videos worldwide through a Web experience. YouTube allows people to easily upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, mobile devices, blogs, and email.
Everyone can watch videos on YouTube. People can see first-hand accounts of current events, find videos about their hobbies and interests, and discover the quirky and unusual. As more people capture special moments on video, YouTube is empowering them to become the broadcasters of tomorrow.

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