Social networks changing communication

AUSTIN, Texas, March 15 (UPI) -- The ongoing growth of social networks like Facebook and Twitter are revolutionizing communication, experts said at a festival in Texas.

FriendFeed founder Paul Buchheit said at the South by SouthWest Festival in Austin, Texas, the use of social networks and their status updates is changing how communication exists for the world, the BBC reported Sunday.

"I think it's a new form of communication; not quite e-mail, more lightweight and more real time, often with a little bit of a publishing flavor to it," Buchheit said.

"What people want to do on social network these days is post status updates," David Sacks, who founded the business social network Yammer, said in agreement at the festival, which began Friday and runs until next Sunday. "We think it's all people want to do."

Buchheit told the BBC a federated system of the major social networks could soon exist, allowing full interconnection between users of different social networking services.