Facebook, MySpace, Friendster and a gazillion other social-networking sites have become Internet sensations almost overnight. Millions are reportedly signing up to join one or more of these sites to “connect” and “network” with friends.
Facebook seems to be the top dog right now; a few years ago it was Friendster then MySpace. Yahoo (the web giant at www.yahoo.com) even made an offer (rumor was $1 billion) to buy Facebook but was spurned (Facebook later accepted an investment from Microsoft to the tune of $240 million. sweet!). I’ve signed up to these networking sites and there’s just so much (for now) that you can do with them after chasing down and connecting yourself with your friends and a thousand others.
Which made me think, why is Yahoo trying to buy Facebook and appear to be playing catch-up? Personally I think Yahoo already has the content and users to give all of these networking sites a run for their money. With Yahoo, I find myself checking emails, chatting with friends, managing groups, viewing photos, checking stocks, news, etc. Yahoo is after all one of the Internet’s most visited sites with users staying even longer at each destination. Everything is there, I just think Yahoo needs to extend and reinvent the “Portal” concept, which they are in a position to do so. Doing this, I think, will make everything fall into place. A consistent strategy across all its division will really enhance and tighten Yahoo into a real community to reckon with. Just think of the Yahoo Messenger and Yahoo Mail, these two products are so prevalent and are already pseudo-social-networking pieces that everyone uses day to day. I don’t mean being used leisurely; these two Yahoo products are used consistently on important things like business and chasing down a friend for something important. Example is having the Yahoo Messenger “contacts” work like “buddies” or “friends” and tie them up into emails and content; and improve the profile experience starting with a revamp of the decrepit My Yahoo! concept. I’m all for it, since I’ve already been onboard the Yahoo train since I’ve signed up with their email account ages ago.
It’s a pity Yahoo doesn’t seem to have the clear vision and direction it needs to have to compete. Google has clearly stumped them dry and making them look pathetic. The potential is clearly there — they need to make it happen. I hate to sign up to yet another social-networking website just yet 
