Ask HN: What is the best tangible benefit of social networks?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3874248

by samikc • 14 years ago

6 5 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

What is the most compelling tangible benefit that you can think of Social networks like FB or Twitter.

kkt262• 14 years ago

It's a great way to keep track of the latest news and happenings in the world and in my local community. I admit I wasn't much of a news reader when I was younger, but now I'm much more plugged in and social media helps me do this.

impendia• 14 years ago

In grad school I had a friend I had a mild crush on. She posted on Facebook that she was going to a concert by this over-the-top disco band -- "Anyone want to come along?"

I did. Not only did I like this person, but ridiculous disco music is very much my idea of a good time! We had a blast.

Maybe that evening happens without FB, maybe not. FB offers a way to ping your whole social network and see what comes back. Sometimes nothing -- which can be a downer. But sometimes it works, and when it does it's awesome.

ActVen• 14 years ago

Momentum. If an issue is identified and numerous people seem to care about it and pass it along, few channels can match a social network's ability to get it attention.

whamill• 14 years ago

The Arab Spring.

vermasque• 14 years ago

I have used it to contact people who you haven't contacted in a while without their current contact information on hand. In other words, it provides identity services that may be less brittle than e-mail or phone numbers.

Ask HN: What is the best tangible benefit of social networks?

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