unigo - mashable - the top 10 social networks for generation y
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The Top 10 Social Networks forGeneration-Y
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BY DAN SCHAWBELJAN 30, 2009
Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve CareerSuccess, and owner of the award winning Personal Branding Blog.
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With thousands of social networks globally, only a handful of them caterspecifically to a special group of individuals, known as Generation-Y. Also knownas Gen-Y or millennials, Generation-Y are individuals born between 1980 and1995, at a volume of 80 million strong.
Gen-Y was raised on technology, so much so that our cell phones are extensionsof our hands and text messaging, instant messaging and Facebooking are howwe interact with others, even different generations. While Facebook is our homesweet home, there are various other social networks out there that cater to thisdemographic and are worth looking at.
If you're in Gen-Y, then the following social networks will help you connect withother Gen-Y'ers in new and exciting ways. You may be familiar with some andothers may be brand new to you. Older generations can learn a lot from thesecommunities, to better understand who we are and what we're about. One of themajor concerns corporations are facing these days is how to cope with Gen-Y,yet many of them don't take the time to get to know us better. These networksare great places for you to start if you're in any generation, but are "must-joins"for Gen-Y.
1. BrazenCareerist.com
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The most valuable Gen-Y network I belong to is BrazenCareerist.com, which iscomposed of hundreds of Gen-Y'ers from around the world. Each member getstheir blog syndicated by the community, much like Ning. Every once in a while,one of your blog posts might make the front page of the site (much like Digg, butwithout the voting), which attracts thousands of visitors each day.
Unlike many social networks out there, BrazenCareerist.com has a credible listof blog cofounders, including Penelope Trunk (Ms. Brazen herself) and Ryan
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Paugh and Ryan Healy from Employeeevolution.com. The site is focused onbringing Gen-Y thought leaders into one area and showcasing their abilities to theworld. Most of the conversations in these blogs focus on career development andGen-Y issues in the workplace.
Overall, Gen-Y members benefit from this site with Google-optimized profileshighlighting personal and professional goals and interests, networking with topGen-Y'ers, as well as the added visibility of blog syndication.
2. 20 Somethings on NingNing has hundreds of thousands of social networks, which is due to the fact thatanyone (even your grandmother) can start their own social network in minutes.There is one Ning network dedicated specifically to Gen-Y'ers and it's called20somethings.ning.com. There are over 4,000 members on this network, which,by Ning standards is impressive. After joining this community and feeling theenvironment out, I must say that it is a very active place, with people who canreally help you as you progress in your careers. It's also perfect for ventingsessions or to promote your business to that age group!
Just like any Ning community, you are able to have a profile, add friends,syndicate your blog, join groups and comment on your friends' walls.
3. My.BarackObama.com
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My.BarackObama.com was a genious marketing campaign for Barack Obama,who just recently was sworn in as our new president. He was able to leveragethe power of community to attract Gen-Y'ers, who had yet to fill out a ballot, toencourage them to vote and donate money. Aside from his existence on Twitterand Facebook, this website allows you to really get involved and become part ofhistory.
There are over a million members and you're able to find local events andgroups, contact undecided voters that live where you do and share your story inyour very own blog. Sure, this site was made to start a movement and raise
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money for the Obama campaign, but Gen-Y'ers receive a real sense ofcommunity and belonging.
Gen-Y helped elect Obama, so this is a great place for them to continue to followhim and meet others who voted the same way.
4. myYearbook.commyYearbook.com was founded by two high school students in 2005 in their highschool and eventually spread to schools across the country, now with over 5million members. This social network connects millennials from around theworld, giving them access to quizzes, friends profiles, games, causes, datingmatches and more. Part of the reason why this site is so successful (14thlargest site in the US) is because it's targeted specifically to Gen-Y and givesthem everything they could ask for.
Facebook is such a broad social network now that its features aren't specific toone group, but pleasing to all. If you're in Gen-Y and want to be a part of a largeplayground of people just like you, then myYearbook.com is a great place to getstarted.
5. thequad.comthequad.com is a place for Gen-Y'ers, who are currently enrolled in college, toscope out the college scene, manage Greek life affiliations, join study forums andshop. This social network is fortunate enough to be endorsed by The Hills
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"actress" Lauren Conrad. While myYearboook.com is suited for younger Gen-Y'ers (more high school students), thequad.com is a perfect solution for activecollege students who are looking to network on campus. You have to have a".edu" email address to join, just like Facebook did when it first started.
The big differentiator between this social network and many others you'll find isthat it's completely interactive, with its event and venue listings, a dynamicpromotions platform and a robust ticketing system. If you're in a fraternity orsorority, you can easily manage dues collection, chapter meetings and more.
Whether it's work or play, this social network will keep you up-to-date and allowyou to manage your college experience better.
6. CoolPeopleCare.com
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coolpeoplecare.org, also the product of a Gen-Y entrepreneur, helps youngpeople make a positive impact on the world. Volunteering and fundraising areboth high priority for members of Gen-Y, who seek to do more than work 9-5jobs. This site contains 99-word articles that offer tips and motivation for you tomake a positive impact.
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CoolPeopleCare also has local event listings, such as 5K runs and fund raisingdinners in every American city. They have partnerships with many groups andwork together with you to find the right opportunity. This site and its owners havea firm grasp of social technologies, as shown by their Twitter, MySpace andFacebook accounts.
Helping other people by donating your time or expertise is incredibly rewardingand by connecting with this website, you're able to reach more people faster andmake more of a difference!
7. Unigo
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Unigo.com is another social network dedicated to college students to sharereviews, photos, videos, documents, and more with students on their campusand across the country. It also caters to high school students who are interestedin finding out what life is really like at North America’s colleges, and makingfriends who can help them find the school that’s right for them.
It is incredibly valuable to feel comfortable with a college before your first week.By meeting current students on Unigo, you can already set up mentors and asocial life, which makes college much less stressful! The key with this social
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network is that the content is written by students who actually attend the colleges,which means that you're getting the right perspective, without any spin.
Unigo is a great social network for learning about colleges before applying and forbuilding a great social life for when you actually attend.
8. Make Me SustainableMakeMeSustainable.com provides individuals and businesses with the toolsnecessary to identify and accomplish sustainable goals. "Sustainable" goals helpimprove our environmental, economic and financial future. This impacts you, yourfamily and the community as a whole. On MakeMeSustainable you're able totrack your energy consumption and environmental impact. Their Carbon andEnergy Portfolio Manager enables you to visualize and contextualize yourindividual impact to the environment. Just like coolpeoplecare.com, this site ismore of a movement and a community.
Gen-Y really cares about the environment and saving money (especially in thiseconomy), so MakeMeSustainable.com is a perfect remedy and opportunity forGen-Y'ers to start make conscious decisions about life.
9. iMantriiMantri.com is the first solution focused on mentoring and actually helps pairmentors with mentees in a social network format. There are a number of featuresthat are really beneficial to you, such as a skills assessment, which generates a
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mentoring "need analysis." There is also a network, where you can hand select amentor (if they agree in the exchange) and you can peruse their content, whichincludes articles, blog posts and discussion forums.
Finding mentors used to be a game of "guess and check," but with iMantri, youalready know who is willing to help and it's just a mouse click away.
10. FDCareer.com
Jun Loayza, a Mashable guest contributor, is the entrepreneurial machine behindFDCareer.com, which is a place for Gen-Y'ers to achieve career development in
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a brand new way. You can research company profiles, ask questions aboutinterviewing tips and do "quests" that can help you grow towards your careergoals.
This site takes advantage of Gen-Y'ers love for playing games. The games in thiscase are "quests," which help you learn necessary skills towards your careerpath and have fun at the same time. For example, one game is called "NoobChess." You earn points when you complete each quest and can get your nameand face on the front page of the site.
For all Gen-Y'ers who are open to new educational techniques and interactivelearning, FDCareer.com is a perfect hideout and it's fun!
More social networking resources from Mashable:- Social Networking God: 350+ Social Networking Sites
- Twitter, Facebook, Digg: Can You Join Too Many Networks
- 23 Best Social Networking Plugins for Firefox
- 70+ Free iPhone Apps for Social Media Mavens
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, askhamdesigns
TOPICS: CONTRIBUTOR, GEN Y, GENERATION Y, MILLENIALS, SOCIAL NETWORK LISTS, SOCIALNETWORKING, SOCIAL NETWORKS, WEB, WEB 2.0
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