OneTwib – Connect With the People Around You

“Curt and Jen live in the house next door and Gina just rented the duplex on the corner next to what’s his name with the old boat trailer out front that’s never had a boat on it. That’s about all I can tell you about my neighbors. We hardly ever see each other, and when we do, we’re in a rush.” That is an actual response from a 32-year-old urban home owner who was asked, “How well do you know your neighbors?” and it’s pretty typical of those of us living in urban and suburban communities across the country.

Given the hectic lives most of us live, and with the increased availability of in-home recreational activities via the internet, cable television and interactive gaming, not knowing one’s neighbors has become an American cultural norm. It is no surprise that a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that of 2,258 adults surveyed only 19% of them knew all of their neighbors by name. The real question is, do those numbers mean people don’t care? Is it possible that if some of the barriers to community building were removed, people would be a lot more willing to get to know each other?

Enter OneTwib.com, a new social networking site that aims to bridge the communication gap between people who live near each other, and help them build a stronger sense of community. Whether it be an announcement of a neighborhood watch meeting, an invitation to join a pick-up basketball game, a plea for the return of a lost pet, or simply an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals who live nearby, OneTwib.com fills a need other social media sites do not. A key feature unique to OneTwib is the homepage radius map that pinpoints exactly what is happening in your immediate surroundings (and its proximity to your home), giving you the opportunity and the option to jump right into the action.

Although some may be put off by the idea of letting strangers know where you are, OneTwib.com only shows the general area you live in and doesn’t actually show anyone your address. Signing up for a free account is easy, and who knows, if enough of your neighbors join too, your block could someday be like “Cheers” where everybody knows your name…