Let's Take the Meetro and Meetup

Metcalfe's Law of the network continues to power new web enterprises aimed at bringing like-minded people together.  Two great examples are Meetup.com and Meetro.com.

Meetup.com helps people find others who share the same interests or passion for a cause, and allows them to form local community groups that regularly meet face-to-face. Organized by locality and by interest topic, you can for instance, find a group in Silicon Valley for people who have recently moved into the area (next scheduled meeting in eight days from now) .  Or a group for wine lovers or hiking enthusiasts or just about any interest--or you can form your own group and attract members.

Once you have a burgeoning network, Meetro helps you communicate with it in real time.  Meetro is a "location-aware social messenger," combining the human elements of social networks, with the real-time communications of instant messaging. Meetro allows you to see who among your network is logged in nearby, right now, and start chatting with them instantly using your AIM, MSN, or Yahoo accounts.

What is significant about both these relatively new services is that they are proving that the Internet need not be a socially-isolating and dividing technology, but rather can be a way for people to connect, communicate and create community together.  Okay you mouse potatoes, go forth and multiply! 

Comments

[vinnie]

As one of the folks behind meetro and organizer of the NewTech Meetup out here in Silicon Valley, I couldn't agree more ;)

We're trying to use technology to help people meet both online and in the real-world.