Monday, September 21, 2009

Glossary: Common Net Terms Explained

I will be constantly editing this post based on the needs of my readers. There's a lot of lingo thrown about online, and if you don't understand terms you run across often, it can make the online experience a lot less fun. With the definitions, I have also thrown in a lot of advice. If you feel I should expand on a term I define here, comment and I will make a separate post about it. Also, let me know if there's something (a word, phrase or acronym) that you are coming across often that you would like defined. Terms are in alphabetical order.


Blog: (noun). Also: Blogger (noun): a person, to Blog/ blogging (verb) Pron: /'blag/

Blogs started off as personal journals that people posted on the net. They can be diary-like (especially since people have the option of making certain posts private), and they can also be for the benefit of other people. They're a great way to keep in touch with friends, and saves you having to email everyone. For an amateur blogger, you will need to sign up on a site that will host your "blog" or "journal". Some common sites are www.blogger.com (where this blog is hosted), www.wordpress.com and www.livejournal.com. Although some sites (such as Livejournal) have options to pay for their services, this is not necessary for the average person and you should not feel obligated to. There are also opportunities if you're really serious- Perez Hilton is a good example of someone who blogs professionally (although he is a terrible example of someone I actually want to read about!).

Online Networking:
This type of social networking is on a fast rise. It's a great way to keep in touch with clients, friends and family who you might not always have the time to call. People can get as much or as little information on your daily activities as you want them to. The way to do this is to have a profile on popular networking websites, and to find the people you know who are also on these sites. They include Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and LinkedIn, amongst others. To the social networking beginner, I would suggest LinkedIn and Facebook. LinkedIn is mostly a professional-stuff only networking site, which is why I like it. It's a great place to connect with coworkers, and even request professional references. Facebook is also good for less formal exchanges, like keeping in touch with friends and family. MySpace I am not as big a fan of, and is mostly limited to a younger population, and also more spammers. One thing to be careful of with Social Networking, is keeping in mind what information you post. Anyone you "add as a friend" could get access to it- so be wary of adding people you don't actually know.

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