Internet Utopia: Live Journal

"We strive to create an environment where you can connect with others, share your thoughts, and be yourself," this is the hook that baits viewers to the website Live Journal, a free social network for people to converse with others who have similar interests, goals, and ideas. Viewing this website has allowed me to see that a blog can evolve into a Utopia of ideas for self-expression. The site offers these aspects to viewers that stand out in bold: Diversity, Creativity, Community, and Privacy

Live Journal has a laid back atmosphere. There are tiny cliques within this large community, where members can join and post blogs about a particular subject, for example, I came across a group titled unsentletters, where members rant out their frustrations in letters to people in there lives, but never send them. Another group such as Soildersheart is a group for veterans and their loved ones who talk how wars had affected them through in photos, pictures,poetry, and narratives. There are groups geared towards culture, Music, Politics, Technology; so no one can feel left out. For the online journals, members can show their entries to the public, or can keep their content to themselves.

The site also gives members free blog template layouts and software to upload photos, and a link to a site that they have to pay for themselves, in order to receive a full range of colorful layouts that fit their personalities. Live Journals gives you options such as being able to access the website from your cell phone and actually turn your blog or journal into a book. The site even lets you make some cash, by posting ad's from goggle.



But like every Utopia, Garden of Eden, and social society there are rules that must be followed. In a previous blog of mine I mentioned about the terms of use page going on from more than two pages, causing the viewer to agree to anything, due to lack of patience. Well LiveJournals term's of use page is long but I have listed points that stood out to me.

Terms of Service:

*All Content posted to Live Journal in any way, is the responsibility and property of the author. Live Journal is committed to maintaining the Service in a manner reasonably acceptable to all audiences but is not responsible for the monitoring or filtering of any journal Content. Within the confines of international and local law, Live Journal will generally not place a limit on the type or appropriateness of user content within journals. Those users posting material not suitable for all audiences must agree that they are fully responsible for all the Content they have posted anywhere on the Service. Should Content be deemed illegal by such law having jurisdiction over the user, you agree that Live Journal may submit all necessary information to, and cooperate with, the proper authorities.

•The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA") requires that we inform parents and legal guardians about how we collect, use, and disclose personal information from children under 13 years of age. Live Journal is not directed at children under 13 years of age but, we recognize that with proper adult supervision some parents might permit their children to visit Live Journal and use our Service. COPPA requires that we obtain the consent of parents and guardians in order for children under 13 years of age to use certain features of Live Journal.

*Don't Upload, post or otherwise transmit any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation;

I believe these terms are fair, considering the awesome options Live Journal gives members for creating their journals. The blogger's work is copyrighted and protected by Live Journal. They don't have to worry about censoring there words and ideas; because the site honors freedom of expression.

Live Journal gives the impression that you can bond with strangers in a secure environment. That these strangers will become your friends, who you can send virtual gifts to their profiles, and become like a large family. This site wants to be a artistic haven where stories can be told; members forming relationships without physical or visual contact, but the linking of the minds.

I consider Live Journal a worthy site to consider if you are interested in sharing, callborating, and connecting with other artist.

*Link to Live Journal: www.livejournal.com/