Alternative to Facebook/Myspace

[bazcaz]

Alternative to Facebook/Myspace
"If you love the idea of Facebook but are wary about posting your information on the web, or are puzzled by all that’s possible on the site, FinerDay.com is an alternative that’s perfect for families who want to keep in touch, no matter how far apart they live.

While it seems these days there are more social networking sites than people these days, it seems there is finally one that is straightforward, easy to understand and catered to the career minded with (or without) families.

The good folk at www.finerday.com have created a social networking site that is not specifically catered to Gen X and Y. There is no mention of Poking, Tagging, Twitpiccing or any of the other nonsensical jargon that these sites have managed to carry into the modern day lexicon, instead what www.finerday.com has done is created an easy to use site that is fun for the whole family.

The major benefit of Finer Day is its simplicity. It subtracts flashy graphics and complicated hyperlinks for large text, easy to follow buttons and a basic outline. Instead of just social events, pictures and joke groups, Finerday.com has included an online diary, links to online shopping, games, and a homepage that has further links to news, travel and many more of your favourite websites. It’s a breeze to set up and within hours you could wonder how you ever lived without it.

So if you feel Facebook, Myspace and Twitter have passed you by but want a simplified solution for keeping in touch with family and friends, as well as an all-encompassing social planning centre, then head to www.finerday.com and create yourself a profile.

[anandasim]

I think these guys miss the point. The reason why people get on to Facebook / Myspace is because the rest of the gang (friends, relos, associates) are already there. Making a new social network by starting an island is ok if you are the ONE who everyone needs / wants to keep track of, but usually, someone else is the target and you join up a social network because someone else is already there. It's a momentum thing....

[aussieboykie]

Maybe Facebook, Twitter, and the like will repeat the life cycle of CB Radio (for those old enough to remember the days of "breaker, breaker", and other exotic jargon) and we'll all get over them when the novelty value is overwhelmed by the nuisance value and pointlessness of at least 90% of the communication.

Regards, AB

[bazcaz]

Nuisance value and pointlessness of at least 90% of the communication I`ll drink to that AB!!

[anandasim]

Maybe Facebook, Twitter, and the like will repeat the life cycle of CB Radio (for those old enough to remember the days of "breaker, breaker", and other exotic jargon) and we'll all get over them when the novelty value is overwhelmed by the nuisance value and pointlessness of at least 90% of the communication.

Regards, AB

I doubt it AB.

CB radio, pen pals using pen and ink, etc... were limited in their reach and immediacy. Reach meaning you don't have your teenage kid on it and you don't have their grandma on it or their cousins or siblings. You had to buy the CB radio, you had to buy the pen and ink and so on.

Social networking is quite different. It is near immediate. It needs some hardware to start. That's your mobile phone, your PC. Those are not additional equipment - everyone has a PC and a mobile phone.

CB radio and pen pals by pen and ink don't have freebies. Because they don't have reach. Social networking has your fav muso on it. Your favourite photographer buddies. Fed Square. Your classmates that you haven't seen since you went to class. Your family and siblings, crossing generation gaps (well, except my mum and sis - they are resistant to anything).

That's why I'm on Facebook.

Twitter is not Facebook. Twitter is different. I don't like Twitter. But if people need to cluster around an organiser of happenings or events leading up to a meet, I can see the usefulness.

[Lilla]

Hello Anandasim,

This is Lilla from Finerday. I hope you do not mind but I read your comment above with great interest. You are quite right about social networks. Finerday always falls into the "social network trap" - what we are developing is a safe, easy to use, family communications platform.

I used to work in a Care Home and I saw our residents becoming more and more isolated. I realised that I had not held (or shared) a photograph for years - they were all on my computer, same with my boys .... I also found it impossible to get my boys to write to their grandparents, because they were always glued to Facebook, and only ever email or message friends and family. I am a bit wary of Facebook - it is great - but many people feel it is too open for them and their family and closest friends.

It sort of became apparent to me that you keep your friends on Facebook, business colleagues on LinkedIn, but where do you keep your family - especially older relatives and youngsters who are too young for Facebook?

Finerday was born ....

Hope you don't mind me joining in.

Best wishes,
Lilla

[anandasim]

I used to work in a Care Home and I saw our residents becoming more and more isolated. I realised that I had not held (or shared) a photograph for years - they were all on my computer, same with my boys .... I also found it impossible to get my boys to write to their grandparents, because they were always glued to Facebook, and only ever email or message friends and family. I am a bit wary of Facebook - it is great - but many people feel it is too open for them and their family and closest friends.

Facebook depend on how you use it. Some people are really promiscuous and they have thousands of contacts. There's no way you can remember whether people will be hurt or you will be hurt by what you say accidentally. Good ol' Bill Gates gave up because he could not identify friend from foe.

On the other hand, I see some people use Facebook with very strong limits - they erect all kinds of limited fences, only admit their dearest and nearest so keep their circle private.

Of course, then you have a problem because you don't have a free and open network and a closed network at the same time on the same social network.

It sort of became apparent to me that you keep your friends on Facebook, business colleagues on LinkedIn

LinkedIn gets very little traffic from me - I am on it but I am not a gregarious shaker and mover in the business network world - I am on Plaxo as well. Both LinkedIn and Plaxo feel too bow tie and black suit for me - it would suit someone climbing up the career path but I'm not sure it's really "social"

but where do you keep your family - especially older relatives and youngsters who are too young for Facebook?

Those are permanent problems. My older relatives will not be in front of a computer, regardless, they are from a generation that does not sit on the electronic keyboard at all. Ever. They are not illiterate, they just don't sit on on a computer, don't own one even though there are ones in the house used by other members of the family. As to the "too young", if they are that young, they also may not have a "passport" to social networking.

Finerday was born ....

Hope you don't mind me joining in.

Best wishes,
Lilla

Welcome, Lilla. And certainly, my best wishes for this startup and best wishes for the future. Diversity of product and service is what drives the internet and keeps it fresh. Hope your audience target and business model work ok.

[Lilla]

Hi Ananda,

Could I ask you please ... you mentioned your older relatives, would they look at family photos and/or join in an easy Live Video conversations if they could see it on their TV?

I was lucky enough to be with Intel the other day and they showed me the new net top computers, the size of your hand, and very low priced, which will turn your TV into an internet device. They are very easy to set up - even I could do it - smiles ...

.... would your older relatives use something like this, with a simple wireless keyboard?

Thanks
Lilla

[anandasim]

Hi Ananda,

Could I ask you please ... you mentioned your older relatives, would they look at family photos and/or join in an easy Live Video conversations if they could see it on their TV?

I was lucky enough to be with Intel the other day and they showed me the new net top computers, the size of your hand, and very low priced, which will turn your TV into an internet device. They are very easy to set up - even I could do it - smiles ...

.... would your older relatives use something like this, with a simple wireless keyboard?

Thanks
Lilla

Hi Lilla,

Sorry to say, no. Appliances like these have been in circulation, not commonly available but available. Many of them were proprietary, hooked onto proprietary providers and hampered by the low res of glass CRT TV. Of course, now some of us have HDTV LCD panels and broadband so these are looking much more feasible. But the problem lies in the mindset of my relatives, not the availability of technology.

[Lilla]

Hi Ananda,

Again, thank you .... It is an issue - older relatives do tend to be disinterested at best, resentful at worst about new technology.

I am lucky enough to be starting a couple of trials with Intel and Microsoft in Care Homes. Intel are providing the hardware and connectivity. I am hoping that, once ("if") we can get the interest of the residents relatives then their support and encouragement will help. I already have a pilot running in a Care Home and about 15-20% of the residents continue to write messages and want to see family photos.

I found one of the greatest encouragements for an older resident is their grandchildren. If they see their grandchildrens enthusiasm then they will try "new technology" ...

Parents are the "influencers" and grandchildren are the "encouragers" ... I believe that older relatives tend to need this support.

Thanks again
Lilla