Got Enemies? There's a app for that

Actually it is a Facebook plug-in that is intended to be a critique of Facebook's social philosophy to connect people based on their affinities. "I like them, therefore we should be friends. But people are also connected and motivated by things they dislike. Alliances are created, conversations are generated, friendships are stressed, stretched, and/or enhanced."

In other words, real relationships even virtual ones, are more complicated than just clicking on a "like" button.  So UT-Dallas Professor Dean Terry, Director of the emerging-media program lead a student project that created EnemyGraph. From the announcement:

EnemyGraph is an application that allows you to list your “enemies”. Any Facebook friend or user of the app can be an enemy. More importantly, you can also make any page or group on Facebook an “enemy”. This covers almost everything including people, places and things. During our testing testing triangles and q-tips were trending, along with politicians, music groups, and math.

Most social networks attempt to connect people based on affinities: you like a certain band or film or sports team, I like them, therefore we should be friends. But people are also connected and motivated by things they dislike. Alliances are created, conversations are generated, friendships are stressed, stretched, and/or enhanced.

For more, see the Chronicle's 'Social-Media Blasphemy' Texas researcher adds 'Enemy' feature to Facebook and Professor’s ‘Enemies’ Plug-In for Facebook Goes Viral. [JH]