If anything stands out as one of the defining buzz words of the last few years, it would have to be “MySpace.” Through (mostly) favorable publicity, myspace.com has become shorthand for the larger movement of online social networking. No longer the strict domain of gossip-prone teenagers, social networking Web sites are increasingly used by everyone from alumni associations to business professionals to the average family as a way to stay connected—in easier and more efficient ways.

This trend is reflected not only among younger demographics – recent studies suggest that more than 70% of Americans 15-34 regularly use online social networks – but now the alumni associations of more than 90 universities across the U.S. hope to capitalize on the phenomenon by offering private social networks of their own.

  Access BGSU’s Alumni Network now

Staying connected to BGSU
Social networking Web sites allow you to share more than information – they can also be used to plan events for your local BGSU alumni chapter or to post photography, audio recordings and just about anything else you might have on your computer.

  See how the Columbus Alumni Chapter used MySpace to create an online community

Career advantages
In today’s highly competitive job market, résumés that survive employers’ initial screening are few and far between, amplifying the importance of personal networking. Creating and sharing online profiles can help you build a professional network or mentor fellow alumni.

Online resources

myspace.com
Meet people from your area in the country and keep in touch. Includes blogs, forums, email, groups, games and events.

facebook.com
Offers a social networking service for students, corporate, and geographic communities. Features include news feed, social time line, and weblog options.

meetup.com
Helps groups of people with shared interests plan events and form offline clubs in local communities around the world.

flickr.com
A photo sharing website, web services suite, and online community platform, generally considered an early example of a “next generation” web application.

linkedin.com
A business-oriented social networking site, mainly used for professional networking. As of May 2007, it had more than 11 million registered users.