About a month ago or so a friend sent me an invitation to join something called "Friendster" and to be his "friend." Well, I am his friend and the site seemed kinda cool and looked like an opportunity for Gay men to meet each other. So I put together a quick bio, joined up (it was free), and finished the link to him. Next thing I know all of my "friends" were joining and linking to me and to others and it became insane. And then I realized that it was out in the straight world and it wasn't even a Gay male network at all. Little did I know. Anyway, I think that it has a basic usefulness, but there are problems with the concept, especially the lack of availability for instant messaging or connection in some way, other than random emails to people who may or may not reject you as a "friend." I haven't really used the site since I first got on cuz I'm not sure what to do with it. But it does seem to be the current flavor/fad of the month.
Baboons may settle questions of social dominance by displaying their buttocks... humans have created an online hierarchy based on the number of people they may claim as acquaintances.
By August, Friendster will start charging users to contact people they don't know directly.... But just as quickly as people have joined Friendster, they could leave, some users say. The value of the site lies in how many friends it can attract and keep.