Any of you LinkedIn users out there?  I have used LinkedIn since it started though I don’t particularly care for the service.  I think using a social networking app primarily for business development and career opportunities is a fantastic idea, but unfortunately LinkedIn is not the solution!

LinkedIn is a pain in the ass to use and no where near as user friendly as MySpace or even Friendster.  Just compare adding a friend on MySpace and adding a contact on LinkedIn and you will see what I mean.  The worse part of LinkedIn is its user base.  It consists of a different generation of people not accustomed to communication across a social platform.  These people do not “play” on the internet.  These are the people who want to turn the computer off when they get home.

LinkedIn needs to be fun!!  They must cater to the “grown up” MySpace users.  LinkedIn is way too “corporate”.  MySpace and Friendster are more social and easier to actually make a contact.  You can think of LinkedIn as being on the floor at a trade show.  Whereas MySpace and Friendster are like being at happy hour after the trade show.  It is much more relaxed and easier to get to know someone before you start talking business.

For many in their mid 20s and up, there is a general feeling that MySpace is “hooched out”.  It is littered with soft porn and social spam.  I believe that there is definitely a market for a “classier” alternative to MySpace that revolves around work and play.

In order for LinkedIn to be relevant in the future it has to compete with MySpace.  Why would I use LinkedIn when all my friends are on MySpace?  LinkedIn has to be more fun and more social.  Right now, most of my coworkers who use LinkedIn don’t grasp internet social networking, blogging, and many other elements of new media communication.