And your mobile for social networking: “The Next Step”

With software and applications being built every second of every day to enhance users interface both with their mobiles, and with their online social networking sites – I guess it would be foolish not to think the next step could be to completely join the two together.

By “next step” I mean more than just using your own mobile to browse your own MySpace or Facebook profile, but ..

the ability to be notified of people in your close proximity with similar social networks or interests – and allowing YOU to access their social networking profiles.

Of course, this would also work in reverse. They could access YOUR profiles.

Now, on first instincts, it screams invasion of privacy to me, but presumably the privacy settings that, say for example, your Facebook (etc) account has, controls whether or not you can be seen/viewed/checked out by other nearby Facebook (etc) peeps.

“How will it will be used – or how might we benefit?”

If you are a little “WTF – do we need this?”, the Technology blog of Timesonline.co.uk goes into valid explanations of where this could be handy; like scoring your next job.

For those of you still thinking “why do we always need to be contactable?”, they say it should also lead to actual face-to-face social networking, instead of just computer-to-computer… hmmm!

So using your mobile to find out details about someone beforehand and deciding whether or not you want to talk to them based on their social network profile, instead of just talking to them and finding out for yourself.

Doesn’t it sound a little like judging a book by its cover?

The future of mobile social networking

You can look forward and see many ways this will be used; like

• targeted sms advertising by retailers; and
• hit-ons at the pub if you’re by yourself

But let’s also hope it means better data plans offered by our telecoms service providers!!

Mood: hopeful

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“How secure is your identity with online forums & social networking sites?”

First we heard about signing over your privacy to the CIA when joining facebook, now we hear that it’s the organised crime groups that we need to worry about. Well, I guess that makes us feel a little safer if the agency is looking out for us?

Seriously though, we are sometimes too complacent with how much personal information we give away online. Details that are on social networking (and similar) sites, can be used to help pull together the missing pieces criminals need to steal our identity.

“What can you do?”

As much as is possible, lock down any online profiles (facebook, myspace, flickr, etc) to be viewable by your friends only; check the privacy section of each site – and as always, don’t action any requests or emails from unknown sources.

Read ninemsn story: Identities stolen with a click

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Have you signed a deal with the Devil?

Did anyone happen to read the fine print when signing up for a facebook account? No? I thought not.

Well, you’re not alone in being unaware that we have granted facebook:

“an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license to use”

our private information at will!

Read ninemsn story: Is your facebook in the wrong hands?

It might also be interesting to note (for those unaware) that you can not delete an account you create on facebook.

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