Family Networking Sites
By Kathy Ishizuka -- School Library Journal, 7/1/2006
Teenagers have MySpace. But why should they have all the fun? Now mom, dad, and the rest of the clan can join in on about a dozen sites, each dedicated to social networking by families.
Launched by entrepreneurs betting on what they hope is the next big online trend, these sites employ the latest 2.0 tools, such as photosharing and wikis, to help families share their stories and stay connected.
JotSpot, an application wiki company, premiered its Family Site in May. The free offering allows families to create a secure online space, locate members on a map, build a family tree, share news and recipes, and more. Most people using the site don't realize they're using a wiki at all, it's that easy, says Scott Johnston, JotSpot's director of wiki applications. OurStory.com is another user-friendly interface that allows people to capture their stories and photos in online presentations, along with a selected “family circle” of users. You can register for a free account or purchase a premium membership with additional features. Other recently launched family media sites include Zamily.com, Families.com, Amiglia.com, FamilyRoutes.com, Famundo.com, and Famoodle.com.
