At first I was unsure if the term referred to people against social networking sites, or was a community for people affected by anti-social personality disorder. It turns out, Anti-Social Networking sites are spoofs of popular online communities.
"Web 2.0 faces its backlash in the form of sites parodying Facebook and MySpace. Sometimes perusing MySpace makes us just want to lock ourselves in the basement and listen to Hungarian black metal," BuzzFeed clarified. "We suppose this is the internet equivalent to that."
The Facebook parodies include Enemybook and Snubster.
Enemybook lets Facebook users categorize by "Enemybook" (see image) as well as view other people's Enemybooks. You can also "tell friends to 'enemy' someone, and spread the hate" or "Add Enemy Details" just as you would friends. For example, to answer "Why is John your enemy?," users can select from:
- We lived together and didn't get along
- We worked together and didn't get along
- John hooked up with my (ex/sister/etc.)
- John killed my (...)
- John insulted my (...)
- John is my (ex, etc.)
- John i the friend of my enemy
- Facebook ruined our relationship
- We became enemies randomly
- I don't even know this enemy, but I hate them already
Feature like these could bruise a few feelings... but I guess that's the intention behind the aptly named site.
Snubster, on the other hand, "encourages people to undermine and mock online social communities, got its start in 2006 and allows users to alienate each other by putting people 'On Notice' or listing them as 'Dead to Me,' Wired blog explained. "While Snubster actually has its own site, it also recently launched Facebook application."
Anti-Social Networking
Enemybook & Snubster
Trend Themes
1. Spoof Social Networks - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new parody social networking sites to appeal to users seeking a satirical alternative to mainstream platforms.
2. Categorizing Enemies - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a platform that allows users to categorize and track their enemies, fostering a sense of community around shared dislikes.
3. Undermining Online Communities - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build a platform that encourages users to mock and undermine various online social communities, providing an outlet for cathartic expression.
Industry Implications
1. Social Networking - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce alternative platforms that challenge the status quo of traditional social networking sites.
2. Satirical Comedy - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop interactive platforms that merge social networking with satire to entertain and engage users.
3. Online Community Management - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create tools and services that facilitate the management and moderation of online communities, allowing users to control their spaces more effectively.