Do-it-yourself social sites

First there were do-it-yourself Web sites (called blogs), now there are user-created social-networking sites with the help of Ning.com, the Wall Street Journal reports. With the privacy choices Ning allows, teachers could create private mini-social sites to create class discussion around Canterbury Tales profiles their students create and social activists can generate buzz and support around their causes with a very public social-networking site. The service offers all the tools for free, only charging for upgrades like extra storage (for all those photos or videos users can upload). Ning “allows users to easily set up three different kinds of sites - a social-networking site, a photo-sharing site and a video site.” What a great tool for a photography or filmmaking class! The Journal also talks about socializing around events (such as high school reunions or local arts events) with services like Google Calendar, Upcoming.org, and HeyLetsGo.com.