ZLoop - A Unique Communicating Tool

I just got off the phone with Brett Myers from ZLoop.comand I’m glad to say right away that Brett says ZLoop is not just another social network like MySpace or Facebook.

So what exactly is Zloop and how can it be a good youth ministry tool?

First, let me give you Brett’s response as to why it’s not just another social network:

ZLoop isn’t a ’social network.’ It is a tool allowing you connect in a way that aligns with the real world privacy rules that naturally govern our interactions. Facebook, MySpace, orkut, hi5, friendster - they all give people a way to connect in one huge monolithic community - of 100 million people. ZLoop allows people to create an infinite number of loops that are completely separate from one another, totally private, and they allow you to interact as you naturally would in the real world. Certain information is shared in some loops, other information in other loops.

Additionally, all of those other sites have people interact around a profile, where ZLoop has people interacting IN a loop - a loop specifically created for a purpose and around a community.

ZLoop also solves the privacy concerns that are rampant in all others sites - you know all of the people that are in your loops and you have approved those people that will have access to your information.

In summation - Facebook/MySpace/etc. are all social networks - great ways to go out and find new people you’ve never met. ZLoop is a way to connect your existing communities in a private, safe and secure space - what youth pastors are already doing on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings - this tool allows it to be done and continuing 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

So with ZLoop you could create a loop specifically for your jr. high ministry, your volunteer team, you can utilize the “relationship” feature to have one on one discussions about a subject and no one else in the loop sees it. You can store files and pictures in your loop. You can create as many loops as you want to depending on how many separate things you are involved in. They have an inbox to let you know every-time one of your loops was updated with a new message to keep track.

Interestingly it was founded by a believer who wanted a tool to connect to the church body, but it’s not deemed as a “Christian” only place. They are currently still in Alpha phase and will move into Beta phase. I think there is enough uniqueness that ZLoop will take off. Right now it’s very green, but we’ll see in a year or two.

The best way to see how Zloop works is to try it out - this is what I’m doing.

Please join the Youth Ministry Ideas loop:

https://www.zloop.com/portal/Login.html?loopkey=ymi&keypassword=ymideas
 

Current loop key name: ymi
Current loop key password: ymideas

What do you think? Just another Social Network or something different?