Is everyone soon going to be using a social network like this one?

[Lisa]

Most of the time I feel like the odd one out when I mention social networks like this one to my friends. I am sure it is just that I work in an environment that encourages the use of new technology and for a reason I don't really understand I am drawn to it. Will the use of social networks spread? Will social networks replace the traditional blog? Will companies really want to have a conversation with their customers or just be comfortable talking at them?

Social Networking’s Next Phase

[Lisa]

I know what you are saying about blogs is true, the word traditional just slipped out. Maybe it was a Freudian slip because it seems like I have been reading them and writing one for a long time. You mentioned adoption being a slow process, how slow? And I think you are right in it does depend on your "community", I am not sure that I would have picked up blogs and social networks if I did not work at a university.

[Jim Milles]

We're way ahead of the curve. I just thought it was funny to refer to a blog as "traditional" when most in my field (lawyers and law profs) are still only vaguely aware that blogs exist.

About your question, though--will everyone be using social networks? I don't know. It depends on your (offline) community. Lawyers and law profs seem very slow to adopt collaborative tools like social networking; they tend to be loners and prefer working alone. I suspect that unless the field of law changes radically--which could happen, I suppose, over time--it was always be a minority who use social networking tools. A highly effective minority perhaps, and that might drive broader adoption, but it's still going to be a slow process.

[Lisa]

So then Jim are we ahead of the curve or headed in the wrong direction?

[Jim Milles]

"Traditional blog"? Most people I work with still don't even know what a blog is!