Netscape founder Marc Andreessen has created a new social networking platform called Ning, which bills itself as a way to “Create Your Own Social Network for Anything.” Sign up for an account and you can immediately use the full functionality of the platform, which includes the ability to upload photos, video, forums, and blogs.

Ning also offers a management dashboard, customization options, and a variety of settings to make networks private or public. More storage and bandwidth can be purchased in increments of 5GB of storage and 100GB of bandwidth for $9.95/unit/month. You can use your own domain name on the network for $4.95/month. The network scales to your needs, allowing for rapid expansion as your user base grows.

Ning networks can be public or private; the scalability and flexibility makes it easy to use in creative ways. For example, one popular network on Ning is ReefSpace, “A social network just for reef aquarium hobbyists. Post your tank profile, blog, share, and network!”

Another interesting network is Classroom 2.0 “…the social networking site devoted to those interested in the practical application of computer technology (especially Web 2.0) in the classroom.” Classroom 2.0 features a handy starter guide to help people who may be a bit shy about posting on the Internet. They offer forums and a video on project-based learning.

I expect to spend a fair amount of time on Ning, as I investigate creative ways to use this service. Some doubt Ning’s ability to start a new trend. Internet analyst Rob Enderle (quoted in Jessica Guynn’s 2/27 SF Chronicle article, “Andreessen betting name on new Ning,” says he’ll wait and see what effect Ning has with users:

The idea of allowing individuals to create environments that better match their own needs and interests is a good one. The difficulty is that people don’t like to do a lot of work. They like to go to places where people with like interests already are. They don’t necessarily like to build their own network, they want to be part of one. It’s not clear whether Ning has factored in human behavior or if it can build the audience it needs to make this work.

MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites are popular, but there’s a need for an easy-to-use, fully functional SN creation tool that allows the average Web user to build a community. It looks like Marc Andreessen (and co-founder Gina Bianchini) has invented another tool to expand the possibilities of online communication.

By Lisa Santora