A List of Top Social Networking Web Sites for February 2009

In Website Magazine’s February 2009 issue, there’s a list of the Web’s top 50 social networking sites. Sure, there’s the names we’re all familiar with: YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, and the like. But, a look at the list reveals some players that are definitely new to me. Never heard of ‘em. Here’s a look at the top 10:

1. YouTube
2. MySpace
3. FaceBook
4. Bebo
5. BlackPlanet.com
6. Tagged.com
7. Imeem.com
8. hi5.com
9. Orkut.com
10. Digg.com

Most on this list are names we’re familar with. A few at the top have probably inched their way into every nook and cranny of our personal space (Facebook and that damned 25 things application). But beyond that, I think it would be hard pressed to find anyone who is intimately and intricately involved with all of these applications. Even the ones just listed in the top 10.

Like Everything else these days, is the bubble about to burst?

That said, is this the beginning of the end for social networking? I mean, we’ve seen it time and time again, right? You name the industry or the innovation, I’ll show you the meteoric rise of players in the marketplace, user adoption, acceptance plateau, industry or category decline, and vendor consolidation (photo by glamhag).

The evolution and importance of user generated content is no doubt the next step in the Web’s next phase. When used correctly and appropriately, it makes the world a better place. But, one can’t help but wonder what the landscape of social networking and it’s players are going to look like in 18-24 months.

Website Magazine is astute in asking some sobering questions in it’s February 2009 issue: “How much time should we all be committing to these resources.” and “What are the indicators of success”, are all great questions to ask ourselves as we all feverishly upload video clips and reveal everything anyone ever wanted to know about ourselves, plus a wee bit more.

Are you using them for more than just mental bubble gum? A time killer? I would love to get some feedback. Or, hit me with some comments below…