With the advent of social networking sites like MySpace and FaceBook, many Internet users spend their time on them and don't seek forum communities to join.. Couple that with the fact that many niches already have perfectly good forums, and it can be difficult for a new forum to become established. Some have managed to successfully use social networking to market their forums, but at least on mine I sometimes then see the new members using the forums solely to drive traffic to their MySpace pages Do you think all the social networking sites are makiing it harder for forums to survive, or are they making it easier for you?

--------------------
Science Chats | Disabled NYC | The Chic Petite

I think that either one can function separately (or together! ) and be successful.

With our new social networking site, WDBuddies.com, we will be tapping into an area that the Disney online community sorely lacks. So, I'm hoping for some pretty big things from WDBuddies.com!

I know from experience that lots of members enjoy a social networking site versus posting (or trying to keep up with posting) on the forums. While others can't stand a social networking site and function better online in a forum environment. So, to each his own.

Luckily, the WDB family of sites has the Disney online solution for anyone wanting to surf the 'net and get their Disney fix!

--------------------
Walt Disney Boards
Walt Disney Buddies
Glam Rock Talk : Under Construction :D

I guess you've found the answer, Arny... own both!

--------------------
Science Chats | Disabled NYC | The Chic Petite

i personally think they help in a way, it is a way for us to get the owrd out to people who would rather actually chat then do myspace math all day....

--------------------
Philly Sports
Delaware Online
PA Forums

I got involved reading and posting in forums _before_ facebook and myspace came on the scene...I only joined facebook because a childhood friend was a member and sent me an e-mail invitation. I would say that forums and social networking sites are more often than not used for different purposes...on a forum, you can be a passive "lurker", just reading through others' posts to gain the benefit of diverse points of view about an issue you would like to know more about...on sites like facebook or myspace, it's more ", old high school buddy".

I'd venture a guess that the people who today prefer ", high school buddy" to forums probably were not the most erudite members to begin with...

--------------------
Science Chats | Disabled NYC | The Chic Petite

soc networking sites are easy to stay up on, dont take much thought to chatter about nothing on myspace or have a cool layout...you have to have communication skills to debate on a forum

--------------------
Philly Sports
Delaware Online
PA Forums

true, and we don't have quite as many pretty blinking pictures

--------------------
Science Chats | Disabled NYC | The Chic Petite

to be honest i HATE soc networking sites like myspace and the like, they are dumb and a waste of time.

--------------------
Philly Sports
Delaware Online
PA Forums

mySpace offends my aesthetic sensibilities... some of the others aren't quite so bad, but they're still boring. Maybe that's why I resist using social networking to promote my sites... I should just hire someone.

--------------------
Science Chats | Disabled NYC | The Chic Petite