The New York Times has just launched TimesPeople, its own type of social network for news addicts. This site connects readers with each other with the goal of sharing news stories that users may not otherwise know about. Users take recommendations from other readers, as well as post their own. This site functions not on group of friends, but rather on a network of fellow Times readers. Once users create a TimesPeople account, the site collects the public actions users make on the NYTimes.com site. The other readers in the network can choose to see a certain user’s activity, and vice versa, hence allowing for the sharing of NYTimes bites. Users share articles, videos, blog posts, picture slideshows, and comments with others on the TimesPeople network.
“TimesPeople is a social network for Times readers. But it's not a social network like Facebook or MySpace — you won't have Times friends, and it won't get you Times dates. Instead, you'll assemble a network of Times readers. Then you'll be able to share interesting things on NYTimes.com with others in the network. For example, when you recommend an article, comment on a blog post, or rate a movie or restaurant, these activities will become visible to other TimesPeople members in a special toolbar at the top of every NYTimes.com page. You'll also have a personal page that keeps track of your TimesPeople activities and lets you browse your network of readers. TimesPeople is a great way to discover things on NYTimes.com that you might not otherwise have found and to share your discoveries with people you know and trust. It's also a way to connect with other Times readers whose recommendations interest you.”
TimesPeople is an interesting tool that will indeed introduce news junkies to news stories and topics that they may not otherwise be familiar with. However, whether or not the suggestions are of value is questionable. Also, whether the features on this new tool are completely developed is yet to be seen.
What other features can be developed? How may users filter the suggestions they receive? How may readers be encouraged to participate?
Visit website:
http://timespeople.nytimes.com/
