From Bugs Bunny to Death: Social networking sites go really, really, really niche

I believe that general social networking sites (SNS) like LinkedIn, FaceBook and MySpace have run into a bit of a wall. While they are great a connecting people in general, they don’t do as good a job of connecting people in specific — that is people with a shared interest who don’t actually want to connect with those who don’t share that interest.

Now I’m not exactly unique in having this insight. As a matter of fact A LOT of people think there’s money to be made here. Herewith a list of some of the odder social networks I have come across:

• T-Works: Warner Bros. social network for toons.
• AlwaysRemembered, Respectance & GoneTooSoon: “According to a new report, ‘death networking’ is all the rage for those interested in grieving Web 2.0-style.”
• The Modern Languages Association
• College.com: This is my favorite as it is a SNS for college students who feel abandoned by FaceBook.
• LinkToYourWorld: The social network for social network developers. META OVERLOAD.
• CollectZing: Aussie collectors of anything
• DirectMatches: “helps people locate everything from business contacts to finding friendship and dates online”
• Behance: professional artists. Perhaps the least lucrative niche.
• DamselsInSuccess (GREAT NAME!): Women in Business
• A-Space: Spies. Not kidding.
• Playboy U.: Readers of Playboy. In other words its a way for guys to connect with other guys who can’t meet women.

Updates as I find them.