There are different types of online social networks (ie different topologies and operating dynamics) and they do have different roles, just like offline.

And being human, we have multiple complex interactions with multiple people – in fact we may use different networks to interact with the same person depending on context.

I recall a fascinating piece of research I saw while working with BT, showing that the same person uses different types of transaction (mobile, landline, email) for different message types

Likewise, I note that there are differences in various social networks depending on purpose – blogs, real time chatroom, asymmetric forums, asymmetric “write on my profile wall” systems, avatar drivem 3D worlds etc.

So…a social web and an info web. Too simple, not nearly nuanced enough – we publisg Broadstuff (Our blog) on the web, on Facebook, and on Twitter – different types of consumption, different audiences

(In fact on Facebook alone there are many finely nuanced types of interactions)

-JD