Recently, a research from France had created a world map of Social Networks on the Internet. It is interesting to know that different cultures, continents have very different approach to CMC – Computer-Mediated Communication.
For example, as we can see from the map, USians prefer MySpace over Facebook and other social networks like Bebo … It is not just because MySpace was born in US but the American’s individualism has contributed largely to the widespread usage of MySpace – an ego-centric social network (social network that focuses on self-expression).
On the other hand, Asia Pacific region adpots Friendster because of the friend network or its relationship-centric approach. Friendster allows people to keep/manage/add friends through friends’ networks. Friendster, in some ways, reflects Asian collectivism culture.
Another interesting finding from the map is Korea. They are the only nation endorses their own developed social network – Cyworld. Why Internet giants like Google, Six Apart and Yahoo! fail to meet Korean’s demand? It is the language or culture barriers to communication had stopped foreign social networks to enter Korea market. In addition, Korean mentality of supporting national products plays a big part in their home-made Cyworld social network.
We can simply conclude from the map that there is no social network that influence dominantly on the Internet. Technological Diffusion between nations also make this differences.
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