The last thing most of us need is another social media network. Between Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr, StumbleUpon, and a gazillion blogs, it can definitely feel like we are overloaded with information! The love-hate relationship that already exists between users and their various social platforms is strained, so why would we subject ourselves to yet another form of social? Because this social media platform is pretty awesome. Microsoft recently launched a beta version of Socl, which marries the picture collage concept of Pinterest with Facebook’s live news feed.
You can use an easy Bing search on the Socl site to create a collage of images and Bing tags each image with the proper source so there are no crazy/ridiculous copyright laws to think about (not that anyone really does). You can also type in any preferred URL and pull images from that site. And, just like Pinterest, Socl has its very own bookmarklet to bring to Socl while you’re surfing the web.
Socl manages to incorporate the good things from each of the major social platforms into its user experience. You have the option to create posts, create image collages, find and follow interests, and follow individual users in the same way you can with Facebook and Google+. Socl even has its own way of liking posts. You can click the smiley face under any user’s posts. The smiley face actually says, “This makes me smile.” Another great thing about Socl is the notification system. It’s clean and easy to use like Google+ and because of the simplicity of the system, there aren’t dozens of different types of notifications. And for the icing on the cake, all the updates are in real time, so everything you have on your home page is current.
After a couple of weeks playing with Socl, I think it will give Facebook and Pinterest a run for their money. It’s a great platform for users who prefer images to text. It’s also international, so users anywhere in the world can create posts. You also don’t have to friend or follow people to see their posts. You can also search for specific topics, like hairstyles, cars, landscapes, etc. and find some pretty incredible images. Because just about everything is allowed on Socl, you may seem some things that are not G-rated. Socl has an easy-to-use reporting function if a post or user is spammy or downright inappropriate.
Go check out Socl now and see what you think! Sound off in the comments!
This is a guest post by Megan Vick. Megan is a blogger and creative content specialist for DiscountFilterStore Blog.
Be Socl with Microsoft,
Lars Neuman
Dec 28. 2012
Its still in beta version or can we use this Socl already?
Anne Curtis
Dec 29. 2012
a social network that combines existing platforms. good idea to handle that much information daily
Pat Petty
Dec 31. 2012
Nah, if I wanted to check socl, I would use Google search engine instead of Bing. This is my love hate relationship between those two.
Liza Mcmillan
Dec 31. 2012
I always knew that Microsoft would be inventing a social network. It’s one of the last big companies left without a social network. Looking forward to checking Socl out!
Callie George
Jan 02. 2013
I always knew that Microsoft would be inventing a social network. It’s one of the last big companies left without a social network. Looking forward to checking Socl out!
Roxanne Johnson
Jan 02. 2013
Now there is a new kid on the block- the Microsoft Socl. This platform is a combination of all the good things of its predecessors like Face book and Pinterest. In just a short time of its launch it is gaining popularity and making waves…wish it all the best!
Delbert Eugenio
Jan 02. 2013
Microsoft Socl is a brand new platform-combination of various known social networks which sounds very promissing and millions of people will join it soon. Thank you for update
Mark Nth
Feb 10. 2013
After using SoCl for a few months and getting pretty involved with it I am very disappointed. Some days it seems like a SPAM wall of posts. It really is just another “popularity contest”.