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And for some, one is made to believe that their lives really do depend on it; they just cannot spend 10 minutes without “sharing” their thoughts.

Facebook has reached unprecedented levels of usage in Zimbabwe as it has been widely made use of to link old friends and relatives.
Relationships have been built around this social networking site while others just use it to show pictures of themselves in new shoes or which cool place they went on holiday.
For all the hype Facebook has created, Zimbabweans need to explore more of other networking sites that might offer them a whole lot more than just sharing what they had for dinner for all to read.

With all the time spent on Facebook one can actually waste a whole working day viewing hogwash spluttered from the top to bottom of one’s wall by people posting a variety of thoughts that do not necessarily benefit the “friends”.

This writer believes there is more to networking than the largest social network the world has ever seen.
For a country whose economy is on the mend it is about time Zimbabweans started exploring other avenues to interact rather than just staying put with social media that only changes its security features only when the founder, Mark Zuckerberg’s account has been hacked.

There is need for people to create a distinct division when it comes to whom you befriend on Facebook. This writer for one would not want to be linked with the boss on Facebook.
Facebook is a place for fun and a bit of naughtiness although prospective employers are said to be looking up your profile and wall before the interview.
This brings to the fore the business networking site called LinkedIn.

Figures as to how many Zimbabweans are on this network are unavailable but this site is considered to be the largest business-oriented social networking site in the world.
Founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking.
LinkedIn is said to have more than 60 million registered users, spanning more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

There has been a debate raging in the cyber world as to which is better Facebook or LinkedIn.
Although, in the first instance, the two had been created to satisfy different needs (Facebook for personal communication and fun, while LinkedIn for professional and business interaction) eventually they meet up and people start to use them in both ways, which is actually more applicable to Facebook.

There is need for people to create a balance that reflects  the differences that exist between the two networks.
With business prospects brightening up for indigenous Zimbabweans it becomes pragmatic for individuals to make use of LinkedIn yet over the years it seems Facebook has also been made use of in business applications.

Neal Schaffer of Social Media Today feels differently as he said of Facebook and LinkedIn: “One platform was created as a closed and trusted networking site for professionals while the roots of the other come from being an open “face book” of college students.
“While LinkedIn has built up a dominant presence in the hearts and minds of the professional demographic group, Facebook is in the centre of consumer culture and many a business who want to capture the hearts and money of us all.”

He said professionals network on one platform while companies establish pages on the other.
“Ask most companies where they plan to concentrate their social media marketing efforts on in 2011, and most businesses I talk to would mention Facebook and even Twitter before mentioning the professional networking platform.
“Recent events, however, may hint at the upcoming battle for business between the two platforms in 2011,” said Mr Schaffer.

Professional Zimbabweans should start making extensive use of LinkedIn and the same goes for business executives and headhunters as the network is likely to cause less HR headaches when it comes to recruitment as companies can actually approach people whose profile they feel suit their company.
When it comes to self-promotion, LinkedIn is the place to be as one can create business pages to promote one’s company or products and services on Facebook but there is just too many distractions on your wall.

Sure, you can interact with potential customers but you would also have to fend off random spam and other people hijacking your wall to promote their offerings.
LinkedIn profiles, on the other hand, are made especially for self-promotion and career advancement.
Want a new job? Need to make the switch and go freelance full-time? Want to joint venture and start your own company? LinkedIn is THE social networking site to go.

Besides, you can increase your blog post visibility by publishing it directly to your profile and LinkedIn groups of your choice.
So, instead of being seen by just 100 of your friends on Facebook, your blog post could be read by 10 000 people in your LinkedIn group network.
With Zimbabwe now linked with the world via the undersea optic fibre the world of communication and technology has opened up making access to high speed internet a reality.
Posting blogs on such sites will be less time consuming and much more rewarding as we move towards a revolution in the Information and Communication Technology industry whose sustenance depends on a population eager to make use of the available technologies at a cost deemed to be fair to them.

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