It is some of both. I use it more as a networking tool so I do not have to know them to connect. Maybe in the future I will get to know them better especially if they need real estate services.

I like everyone!

I feel the same as Debbie Reynolds. I use LinkedIn with out of area real estate agents to be their contact for real estate in Tacoma Washington. I haven't connected but to a few local agents...

When we first started this madness in 2007, the rule was take everyone.  After really looking aat the folks, we deleted over 1/2 on FB.  Now, we are very discerning as to who we accept.  I am not interested in numbers.

Most I know well, some are more casual aquaintences, just a few I've never actually met, but we are connected in some way.  I don't just add people, it's not a contest to collect the most.  If it was, I already lost. 

Not always.

The question is do you get referrals or business from the people you connect without having any idea how they found you? If yes, keep up the practice I would say. Business social connections are mostly for business. For personal FB, however, I do not accept anyone I haven't shared memories with - but on any other platform, I am open to develop brand new relationships.

Usually those that I don't already know are in the industry and we share common 'friends'. Don't typically accept friend requests outside of business where I don't really know the person.

I check their profile first. If there are similarities in interests, most definitely I accept their invite. 

I usually connect first and then work on making a more personal connection once I see more of what their interests are and who we have in common

I agree with those who said that it depends on the social network.  On Twitter, I acknowledge all followers but only follow those related to my field or who seems to be putting out content that may be useful to marketing.  On Facebook, I usually like pages for their content and as far as people, I generally do not discriminate if we have friends in common.  Also, I would add people that I think has influence especially if we have friends in common.

On LinkedIn, I add any and everybody since it is more of a professional/business network and anybody can be a source of business/referral.  Praful, great question!

I only add people I have met before...or spoke to. Sometimes I will add Friends of Friends if I feel that we have a connection (ie been to same gatherings or have heard alot about them or my friend was telling them about what I do) There has to be some connection in my mind. Number is good too tho!

I usually check out their profile first and if there isn't anything that seems to be strange, I add them.

I do however put everyone into a Group.  Some of my social networking sites have 10 or more Groups.

I am a bit leery about adding people I don't know on FB especially, since they then get into circles where I don't wnat them.  I don't tweet, so thats out. On Linked-In I add those that could be beneficial, but do not add those without a picture.

I accept most anyone on LinkedIn, my business FB page and Google+. I keep my personal FB page to friends and family. 

Praful no there are all sorts of people trolling. You do not know their motives. I know the results of a social media connection way less than I know you. You are fishing. You hope to cultivate that lead into someone you meet some day. There is an art to dealing with these leads. I am not the expert, only an experimenter.

It varies but usually it's a business connection and not a friendship. For me it is not a numbers game, it is targeted to produce results.

Of course you don't know the pople well that you connect with on social media. I am not part of the generation that invented social media...I just do it because they tell me to!

The simple answer, it depends. It depends on which social media network. On Linkedin, I will connect with almost anyone and as a result, it has brought me business that I would never have expected.

Pretty much a numbers game for me as I tend to accept friend requests without really knowing many of them.

More often than not this year I connect online with people I've met in person at a class or event. Funny though, this is a recent thing. For several years now it was the other way around. I'd meet people in person and for the most part I already new them online. My favorite meets are knowing AR members online and then getting to meet them in person is such a treat. 

I tend to review everyone before just accepting their friend request. For example on Linkedin I will connect with others who are in my same industry and we share common connections, groups or have done business together. On Facebook, if I do not know you personaly, I am not willing to connect or Friend you.

Social Media networking is a agreement of mutual exploitation.

Unless you accept this as the true meaning you will always be asking 'Why?" and hesitant to discard the dead wood.

Is it a numbers game? Absolutely, you want to exploit as many of your 'connects' friends as possible!

I use social media to network as well as keep in touch with those that I know.  If I do not know them, I will read their profile first to see if I would want to connect.  

I never just add anyone.  I have about a 100-150 invitations from lenders to connect on LinkedIn.  If they called and introduced themselves first or wrote a letter of introduction, I may be more inclined not to ignore them.

Not everyone gets accepted.

Most I don't know, But do check out their profiles, if they have a photo and have posted on the sites...if not I do not link to them or friend them on FB, google+, etc.