Is the graph to the left an indication of another social networking site crossing a threshold? The newish site MOLI just hit my radar as I was watching some graphs of recent Mover sites that aren't overnight spikes followed by a return to their former levels. This one has been on a steady climb for at least a few weeks.
I've seen enough of these things come along over time to recognize the initial pattern: social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace seem to toil in relative obscurity for a while, expanding from the people who work there and their families and friends to a larger audience with time. Then, something happens: a critical mass of those who are in the know sign on and they grow quickly. I wonder if that's what is happening with MOLI.
I am not big on social networking sites personally. I think that between my accounts on Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn, I have just enough connections to seem like a hermit. When YouTube came out with the tag-line "Broadcast yourself," I thought, "Well, whatever for?" I have a professional interest in these sites, but tend to prefer not to publish the quotidian, my quotidian. When the stories started coming out a couple of years ago about people leaving college and missing out on job opportunities because they were a bit to free with their personal details on such sites, I was comforted by my obscurity.
It seems MOLI might be a step in the right direction for those addicted to sharing personal details. Because the site allows you to manage multiple profiles using one account, the folks from the church social never have to know about the party animals you know--who in turn won't have any idea how boring your job is. However, because I can just see me posting my award-winning tuna casserole recipe to my social profile in a moment of reply-to-all oblivion, I think I just might stick with my journals.
Does MOLI have a niche?
