Which Social Network Do Scientists Prefer for Networking?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the preferred social networks for scientists, particularly physicists, focusing on platforms like Facebook, ResearchGate, LinkedIn, and Mendeley. Participants explore the suitability of these networks for scientific networking versus general social interaction.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that Physics Forums (PF) is a preferred platform, although it may not fit the traditional definition of a social network.
  • One participant expresses a preference for platforms like Facebook or Windows Live Spaces, while critiquing ResearchGate for being overly focused on job and publication-related content.
  • Another participant mentions LinkedIn as popular among professionals but questions its usage among academics.
  • Mendeley is highlighted as a tool primarily for reference management that also includes social networking features, though one participant primarily uses it for its reference management capabilities.
  • A participant notes that many scientists belong to groups or associations in their fields, but these are not considered online social networks.
  • One participant shares a personal connection with a well-known physicist on Facebook, indicating that some scientists do engage on social media platforms.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a single preferred social network for scientists, with multiple competing views and personal preferences expressed throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

There is a lack of clarity regarding the definitions of social networks versus online communities, and participants express varying opinions on the appropriateness of different platforms for scientific networking.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the networking habits of scientists, particularly in the fields of physics and related disciplines, may find this discussion relevant.

JohnT89
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I know there are many and I know their approximate member count, but in your opinion, is there any 'preferred' social network which scientists (preferrably physicists) tend to use more?

thanks
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
PF ! :smile:
(if you call the general discussion as a social network)
 
The legend said:
PF ! :smile:
(if you call the general discussion as a social network)

I am already in PF as you can see, and already enjoying it :D
By the way, no: I am not talking about Online Communities such forums, blogs, sites.

I am talking about something like Facebook or Windows Live Spaces.
I heard about ResearchGate, but there are many many others.
The problem with ResearchGate is that I personally find it too 'job and pubblications oriented' and thus 'too much' for a simple enthusiast undergraduate.

Main question:
simply choose the most crowded (most known = more chances that people will have at least one account there) or the niche ones (way, way, way less people but everyone looking for a scientific exchange purpose)?
 
Last edited:
I've heard that LinkedIn is popular among professionals (i.e. people with jobs), but that probably mostly refers to the typical office-worker types. I'm not sure if it's used by academics.

One that I happen to like is Mendeley. It's primarily an online reference manager (like "iTunes for scientific papers" they say, although I'm not sure that description does it justice), but it does have some basic social networking features. Personally I mostly just use it for the reference management, not the social networking.
 
PF


:biggrin:​
 
JohnT89 said:
I am already in PF as you can see, and already enjoying it :D
By the way, no: I am not talking about Online Communities such forums, blogs, sites.

I am talking about something like Facebook or Windows Live Spaces.
I heard about ResearchGate, but there are many many others.
The problem with ResearchGate is that I personally find it too 'job and pubblications oriented' and thus 'too much' for a simple enthusiast undergraduate.

Main question:
simply choose the most crowded (most known = more chances that people will have at least one account there) or the niche ones (way, way, way less people but everyone looking for a scientific exchange purpose)?
A lot of scientists belong to groups or associations in their field of study, but I wouldn't call them online social networks. Many also belong to Alumni groups, some of these do arrange social events, but the level of participation varies. "Scientists", unless they're all lying to me, don't hang out like herds at a watering hole, online or off line. :-p
 
I am "friends" with Leonard Susskind over Facebook.
 

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