Manovich discusses how “collaboration over the network to create new media is the most visible example of a more general phenomenon.” He says “new media culture brings with it… new models of authorship which all involve different forms of collaboration.”

With respect to the digital social network, I believe that interactivity as collaboration in this case is indeed an example of how new technologies afford users a new form of authorship that in term results in new forms of interpersonal connections. I believe that in the network, miscommunication is avoided by limiting the identity that the users are able to create online. Networking sites limit the extent and forms of identity by designing their site interface in specific ways. In this way, sites themselves are assured that they will attract users and be able to maintain them by providing a medium “real” enough, yet not TOO real, in which users have some sort of liberty to make certain connections. In this way, the limitation is a factor in the creation of the version of the individual, or identity presented. This ensures that the success (in terms of maximized interactivity, and therefore, connections forged through the network) of the users’ online identity will be maximized. Of course, this “success” will be still be limited in terms of what kind of audience the users are attempting to attract. Nonetheless, as Manovich says, the comprehensions of the narrative, in this case the user, will be improved.

Add another social network to the list. Wallop claims to be different from all other social netowrking sites... Lets see how long before that changes and it becomes another Myspace.

http://www.wallop.com/

Articles on Wallop;

http://www.newsfactor.com/news/Will-Microsoft-s-Spin-Off-Pack-a-Wallop-/story.xhtml?story_id=12300BAXM2KF

http://www.enn.ie/frontpage/news-9819797.html

Blog on Wallop:

http://www.adotas.com/2006/09/ex-microsoft-crew-launch-myspace-alternative/