Forget about the space age. It feels more like the MySpace age. And by that I’m simply stating what has probably become apparent to everyone…social networking is in. It’s everywhere, and if you don’t believe me you just might want to ask the nine year old next to you. It’s true, websites like club penguin, Habbo Hotel, and Imbee.com are already introducing social networking to tykes (Find out more at: <<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17266131/site/newsweek/>>). That’s right tykes!
This is serious. How serious? Well, let me just say that about 10 to 20 states are considering imposing strict regulations on social networking sites. True, the legislation is intended to protect children from sexual predators, but the point that I’m trying to make is that social networking is getting a lot of attention (<<http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=197801465>>). And it seems like it’s only going to get worse; or better, however you want to look at it. Mark Zuckerburg, the creator of Facebook, certainly isn’t complaining. I wouldn’t either if someone told me that my website had the potential make 100 million dollars in revenue this year alone (<<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17285000/>>). It seems everyone is getting on board. Even Sony is in the works of unveiling its own online network (<<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17504219/>>).
But even with all that’s going on, the following news came as a shock. Social networks within the financial community? I know, it sounds unnatural. However, Microsoft’s latest brainchild aims at creating a series of communities focused around work roles; the latest of which is the as of yet unnamed forum for financial professionals. It’s true that there are already similar products offered by IBM and sites like CFO, but Microsoft is promising a more dynamic product (<<http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198000284>>). My question is what does that look like? I’m sure that there is a well intentioned idea in there somewhere. But I can’t help but wonder what the ramifications are of having financial professionals talk to one another. That is, looking at it from a corporate perspective? I wonder if it’s going to take off, and it’ll be interesting to see the way these forums are used and what they are used for.
This is serious. How serious? Well, let me just say that about 10 to 20 states are considering imposing strict regulations on social networking sites. True, the legislation is intended to protect children from sexual predators, but the point that I’m trying to make is that social networking is getting a lot of attention (<<http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=197801465>>). And it seems like it’s only going to get worse; or better, however you want to look at it. Mark Zuckerburg, the creator of Facebook, certainly isn’t complaining. I wouldn’t either if someone told me that my website had the potential make 100 million dollars in revenue this year alone (<<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17285000/>>). It seems everyone is getting on board. Even Sony is in the works of unveiling its own online network (<<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17504219/>>).
But even with all that’s going on, the following news came as a shock. Social networks within the financial community? I know, it sounds unnatural. However, Microsoft’s latest brainchild aims at creating a series of communities focused around work roles; the latest of which is the as of yet unnamed forum for financial professionals. It’s true that there are already similar products offered by IBM and sites like CFO, but Microsoft is promising a more dynamic product (<<http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=198000284>>). My question is what does that look like? I’m sure that there is a well intentioned idea in there somewhere. But I can’t help but wonder what the ramifications are of having financial professionals talk to one another. That is, looking at it from a corporate perspective? I wonder if it’s going to take off, and it’ll be interesting to see the way these forums are used and what they are used for.
