With the growing popularity of blogs and further emphasis building on the personal online community, MySpace, extremely popular among teenagers, has emerged as something of a leader. Social networking online has taken off as features like blogging, online photo albums, and chat rooms increasingly enable people to connect with other people in different ways.
Blogs, which have existed since the late 90's, are believed to be the high tech way for teenagers to communicate. Many teens describe such sites as "the new e-mail". Users have the opportunity to find people with similar interests and participate in forum topics created by other users. Social networking sites are shaping the way in which our younger generation interact with one another.
As a result the BBC plan to rebuild the website with user generated content such as home videos and blogs. Broadband portals relating to sport, music, health and other popular topics will also be developed. The BBC is set on rolling out a strategy for the new site focusing on three central concepts: 'share', 'find' and 'play'.
The 'share' strategy encourages users to create their own space and build the BBC site around them, providing the option to post home videos and personal comments on the site. The 'find' concept relates to releasing BBC documentation so internet users can view details of the BBC's entire programme catalogue, a catalogue which goes all the way back to 1937!
The MyBBCPlayer, recently re-branded as the BBC iPlayer, represents the 'play' concept. This permits the public to download and view BBC programming online, as well as stream programmes live through their desktops.
From an SEO perspective, building more search engine and user friendly content which is fresh onto a site can only have a positive impact. The online industry, especially social networking, is growing and developing rapidly, therefore big brands such as the BBC are right to exploit the resources they have available.
By showing a desire to participate with such online innovations the BBC, already a major online presence, is looking to the future of the internet and seeing social search, and search itself, as integral to that future.
