Academics only Facebook? You must be joking…

I just joined Academia.edu, a new social networking tool that recently entered the web arena. It has been defined as a Facebook for Researchers. Well, it has some similarities, but many differences too. I can only say a few thing at face value, because I just entered into it. The idea is quite interesting.

It displays Academics around the world in a tree structure, first by University, then Departments, then individuals. The tree structure is not very user-friendly, and I am not sure it is really useful. The possibility to create a personal academic page is more valuable. Here is mine (very basic stuff as yet, but there is a link to my own website. Who knows, maybe I will transfer part of it on Academia.edu).

The margin of improvement are huge in my opinion, but there is potential.

I found some critical commentary at cogdogblog. I will come back later today and write my response to them, because now I have a lecture to give.