Does the "average Joe" really benefit from multiple social networking sites at once?

I just watched a video on YouTube of Chris Pirillo's speech at LeWeb in Paris in 2009. Of all the videos of Chris I have seen, I had never seen this one before today, and he really hit home with some key points, especially going into the various aspects of what we consider a "community".

At one point, he mentions certain community "tools" include things like Facebook, Twitter, and similar sites, that obviously, bring people closer together and makes people aware of "what's going on".

I have never understood why so many people tend to be on multiple social networking sites all at the same time. I'm on Facebook, and a few tech communities (this one included, obviously) and that's it for me. Yet I have one friend for example that is on Facebook, MySpace (I still forgive him), Twitter, Blogster, hi5, etc., yet he's just your "average Joe".

Someone like Chris I can see being a part of so many networking groups and communities, as he's not only a "tech icon" I guess you could say, but he's also in the business/entrepreneurial aspect as well. Someone like him and others alike I could see being a part of all those, but your "average Joe"? Generally I would think that if I joined up for MySpace again after all this time, and joined Twitter, the only people that will follow me, are typically the same people I'm friends with on Facebook; that said, I guess my question is, does the average person benefit from being a part of all of those too, or does it matter?

Maybe this sounds like a dumb question, maybe I haven't worded quite like I wanted to, but I'm hoping someone in the community will understand the context of the question.

(sorry for the long-windedness…)

asked Feb 23 '11 at 17:25

Rizzy
4.4k●19●42●89

2 Answers:

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I mainly use facebook, twitter, and tumblr for social networking. I use facebook to communicate with friends, share pics, and post statuses that I deem important. I use twitter to update what I'm doing whether it's eating dinner here, doing hw, studying or what. I don't post status like that on facebook so I don't spam everyone.... I use tumblr for blogging, reblogging this and that, and to vent w.e

answered Feb 23 '11 at 17:30

Gary
1.2k●25●35●51

edited Feb 23 '11 at 17:33

Okay, I see your uses...but again, my question is do the same people follow you (for the most part anyway) from Facebook to Twitter? I guess my whole point is that in those scenarios where almost the same exact people would follow you from site to site, it's kind of redundant to be on multiple sites, vs. just sticking with, say, Facebook, and updating your statuses as you see fit to let the FB world what's going on.

(Feb 23 '11 at 17:35) Rizzy

0	I'm on multiple social networks youtube-videos, myspace-music, facebook-friends, twitter-anyone-keep tactor others etc,.. answered Mar 11 '11 at 20:47 jesseforpeace 76●1●1●6

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