I previously shared what I felt social networking should be about, that is “to connect you to others in a meaningful way.” However, it is difficult to define what is meaningful. Strangely though, it is always easier to identify what we should not do in social networking, rather than how best to use it. The gist is, we should always keep our doors open for ideas and genuine relationships.

Perhaps some of you would have come across the term “Social Networking Fatique” and it is the time when you feel so drained and tired from all the interlocking new relationships you establish over social networking sites. What’s worse, when you get irritated by all kinds of application invitations in sites like Facebook or MySpace. I am sure quality networking goes far beyond super-poking each other. If I were to poke you with a steak knife for real, I am sure you wouldn’t take it laying down.

While I am not a social networking expert, I can safely tell you the obsession with social networking can potentially turn you into a derailed social butterfly. That’s to say, you don’t enhance the conversation but rather, for the sake of it. Sometimes I navigate my way around Facebook looking at those with hundreds to thousands of “friends”, I can’t help but wonder if these people ever engage in real conversations.

What is not social networking?

Adding everyone you can find. At the end of the day, how many fruitful engagement are being nurtured? Truth is, there is only so much we can keep track of. Turn to your profile and ask yourself, what if each and everyone of them send you just one single message per day?

Hoping to be understood. If understanding a person is that easy with a few favourite movies or music, we are all better off hanging out at the store. Getting into the social networking sites is only a start. You’re not through yet, until you spend some quality time to develop the relationship.

Groups for whoring. It isn’t a pleasant word to use, and I wished I had a better choice. Unfortunately, that’s the only way I can bring this straight to the point. Groups and networks fundamentally come together to serve a specific purpose while keeping themselves open to new memberships. They’re certainly not designed to plant you there and relationships blossom on their own. I join a humble collection of 15 groups in Facebook and I am already finding it tough to keep up with each and everyone of them.

It’s about what values you can draw out of it, and also how you can contribute. Read - relevance.

Forgetting the real world. Online networking and real world networking goes hand in hand together. You use the same techniques, etiquettes and also passion regardless of which form of networking you do. Much like dining etiquettes if you’d like to think so. A change of restaurant or country does not diminish the need to observe these rules.

Being somebody else. Very frequently, I observed that individuals who are seemingly loud online but in reality, they are pretty much another person. While it is possible for us to adopt a different persona altogether online, quality networking is only possible when you’re being real. You would say the same things and conduct yourself similarly online and offline, so to speak. Your opinions do not change (without good reasons) even when a face-to-face conversation is necessary.

Undeniably, online social networking revolutionize the way we discover contacts and communicate subsequently. My answer to most people who asked if we have forgotten about the ground rules for healthy interaction, is a definite YES.