WHAT WE FOUND: Communities.com is a free service for people that want to meet people in an (almost) anything goes forum. You’ll be able to chat with people all over the world within minutes of becoming a free member. Post pictures to your profile, join forums to create or continue conversation topics, it’s really a lot of fun hanging out here. The navigation could have been better laid out, it’ll take you a few visits to get your bearings getting around the site so be sure to read the FAQ after you join. Chats are group via forums and private using the Instant Messenger service, watch your top of page icons and right sidebar icons for actions that need your attention.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Free memberships, this is a forum and chat based service. You must be 14 or older to join, those 16 and under are restricted to their age group for interactions, which, although not ideal, does help this to become a teen-safe website, although the rules are easily bypassed and parents should be cautioned.

WHAT WE FOUND: Twitter is your free mini blog to shout to friends and the world. Free to join, once you’ve signed up your miniblog/comment post account your Twitter is ready for your wortds. You’ll have only up to 140 characters to say what you’re doing, what’s on your mind, whatever. Twitter is free. Twitter can be fun. I’m trying to figure it out as you can see on this page: http://twitter.com/alovelinksplus I do appreciate the use of Twitter in that it’s not two-way conversationally based, you have something to say, say it. Keep what you say to yourself and the friends you allow to see or open your comments up to the public timeline area of Twitter for all to see. You’ll want to look for friends to share Twitter with to make this service usable. Visit the home page to see what others are saying, doing, posting. Twitter reminds me of the search engine Alta Vista (I think, maybe it was AskJeeves) back years ago when they had a live search feed where you could see what others were actually searching for, real time. You can click on someone’s Twitter nickname and visit their own home page, miniblog and catch up on everything they’ve said (when it’s public), add them as a friend, and most fun of all, see their Twitter group and visit them too. I don’t use the IM’s that Twitter will work on yet so I have to visit my Twitter home page to post my comments. Not a hardship but if Twitter was in a stand-alone form it would be better. Have some fun give this miniblog service a try. At least visit me and see if I’m still updating regularly.

WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Twitter is a free miniblog service, capable of being added to your SMS phone service (in some areas) as well as added to your Instant Messenger (not all IM’s supported yet). Use Twitter as a way to post what you are doing, how you are feeling, anything really, to your group of Twitter and IM friends and the world. Features and improvements are expected to change Twitter for the better soon. Visit the Twitter help and FAQ pages for current details.