The hype about social networks is a bit stifling at times. The social pressure to join them is even worse. Old friends, relatives or contacts who are yet to join Facebook or LinkedIn suffer the slings and arrows of social networking mavens who tell them they’re missing out on something cool.

Beyond the sheer joy of throwing sheep at friends or catching a buzz from virtual cocktails, we wonder how social networks help you personally or professionally. Are they an enormous time sink or a breakthrough in how you manage relationships?

To find out, the editors of Found|READ in conjunction with My Global Career invite you to participate in the groundbreaking State of Social Networking 2008 – a free, fast and confidential study about how people use social networks. Your completed survey enters you into a drawing for an Apple iPhone or equivalent prize from an Apple store. To complete the survey, please go to http://s-kf7uz-25818.sgizmo.com/

We look forward to sharing the results of the study with you and hearing your thoughts about what social networking is getting right – or wrong.