EBlog

This is simple. My online social networking behavior mirrors my offline behavior.

More networking at work, less in my personal life.

In general, my guess is that people’s personalities tend to guide their activities online more than if it’s personally or professionally focussed.

I’m currently trying to figure this out for myself. My current thinking is that I’m trying to keep my Facebook profile/activities more personally focussed, LinkedIn is obviously more professionally focussed, and Twitter is a complete mix of the two. I a bit more active on Facebook than I am on LinkedIn, but I’m not sure why. Maybe because it’s just easier and more fun to “Become a fan” of a band than it is to answer a tech-related question on LinkedIn. That said, I have joined a couple groups on LinkedIn recently, but I have done nothing more than that.

Twitter eclipses them both by a mile. I post thoughts and converse with others - friends, family, industry experts, and others I don’t know about at all - multiple times a day.

This gets you nowhere in your research, I know, but like I said, I’m still figuring this out. And I think most of us are. And just like in real life, my professional and personal social lives mix and wax and wain depending on my mood, the circumstances, the people involved, etc.

In general, though, I’d say I’m a critic and a spectator - and thus a joiner by default.

I think my thoughts mirror Nicholas’s above, so I won’t repeat them.  Short answer - more at work, less at home (most of the time).  Great answer, huh?

The only social networking service I use both in my personal and work life is twitter - as it is a mix of personal and professional voices that I can choose to tune in or out at any time. 

It feels like I do less “work” following and posting to twitter, rather that Facebook or the like.  That casual usage, I feel, is what makes it perfectly suitable for both work and personal situations.

Thanks for responding.  Looks like we have a mixed bag here.  2 tend to use social networking more for work, 1 slightly more for personal.

I tend to do participate differently depending on whether its work or personal related. 

For work, I’m a spectator and creator but not a joiner. I read a lot, create posts and comments on other people’s blogs. I do little in the social networking arena (e.g., LinkedIn) maybe because I tend to associate that with looking for a job.

In my personal life I’m more of a joiner (Facebook) and create little or no content.  It’s more about staying connected with people I don’t see on a regular basis.

All so interesting. Thanks again for your comments.

I’d say that socially, I am more of a Joiner. I have accounts on a number of sites, but wouldn’t say I am as active as most on those sites.

Professionally, I tend to be more active in posting, reading and participating.