Here are a list of the top 5 social media sites as I see it and why.

Digg: We all know Digg, one of the most popular social news sites. It is also the first of its kind and has many loyal users who are working on the backend of Digg to bring in news to the homepage of Digg, where most people arrive. One can expect to find funny and interesting videos and images with stories from popular blogs on Digg. Kevin Rose, Founder of Digg, was looking for $300 million buyout of Digg, but as I had noted, it seems to be pretty difficult.

Reddit: While Digg started by centering on tech news and then expanding its domain, on Reddit it’s mainly the political news that rule the roost. With a much simpler interface - in fact, too simple, I think it survives because it serves a niche.

Newsvine: This site has a bit more of a traditional look with its content being not wholly user contributed but also automatically picked from sources like Associated Press, ESPN, New Scientist, etc. Of course, users can submit their stories too, but self promotion there is heavily frowned upon!!! Its interface and look and feel though is much admired.

Mixx: Now, this site is said to have a future. Though presently, a small but active community, it has mainly received good reviews. Recently, it introduced features for private or public groups inside its community which basically did away with the need for Digg clones. Another reason behind the rise of Mixx was that it got be an alternate site for Digg refugees, people who were banned from Digg or frustrated because of the untransparent way in which Digg functions. What I am referring to, is buries of certain stories and account bans that happen on Digg without giving a clear reason and being unresponsive to their claims. Many of these users have moved over to Mixx as can be seen by Digg related stories which often make it to their homepage :).

Propeller: This site was touted to be the one among many Digg clones that were present but has not really lived up to its initial publicity. Even though it has grown slowly, I am waiting to see what is unique thing they will try to do or to find a niche that would bolster their growth.