Introducing the private social network. A personal approach to social media that introduces a new layer of trust to online interaction.

One of the main things I've been talking about during my on-air segments looking back at 2007 and forward to 2008 is the socialization of the Internet. Social media, led by Facebook, helped drive millions of users to levels of interactivity that they'd previously abstained from engaging in.

This wave of social change fostered a new and accessible approach to Internet use and organization. I'm excited by the new ways I've seen people use the web in the last year, and I anticipate the year ahead to continue this rapid pace of innovation.

One of the benefits of self-identified social networks is the layers of trust that can be developed amongst friends and contacts. In the past year I've been using facebook to share things with my friends, in a privileged semi-private environment.

However as fun and accessible as facebook is, it has its own set of problems, and evolving rules and regulations. This effectively allows Facebook the arbitrary power to ban or suspend people from their platform without having to give any reason or explanation. I've had this happen to a few friends, and quite frankly that's the sort of power I like to reserve for myself.

So therefore in 2008 I'll be using my website as a personal social network. A secure environment for my friends, associates, contacts, supporters, clients, and anyone genuinely interested in my work, to have special access to what I'm doing as well as each other.

I'll still write semi-regular public blog posts, and link to my broadcast and online journalism, however a substantial amount of content will be accessible only to people who register an account on my site and request addition to this social network I'm creating.

Some of the content available exclusively within the network includes:

• a private blog updated more frequently
• access to ideas and projects in early formation
• access to news feeds I monitor, organize, and make available
• events I'm aware of or want to promote
• profiles for my contacts to get to know each other
• plus a secure and safe space to talk

I'll continue to use Facebook, and LinkedIn, and other social networks that emerge and are useful, however I also want to demonstrate the socialization of the web as a whole. So starting with my own site I'll consolidate my social networking activity, organize and share my intelligence sources, while also creating a network to build trust amongst my friends and contacts allowing me to be more open within a relatively secure environment.