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For a while now, social-networking features have been to bubbly new websites what power windows, cupholders, and vanity mirrors used to be for new cars. Even GM can glue reflective plastic to the back of a cardboard visor. Likewise, a new site's service might not be actually useful, but it nonetheless feels obliged to offer the same bells and whistles as competitors. In other words, it allows you to sign up for spam, upload your picture and connect with other suckers. The latest example?

Try Hakia. It's a search engine that allows you meet other people who searching on the same topic.

Frankly, we love the idea. Sure, AOL still hasn't recovered from leaking search queries two summers ago, and, OK things haven't gone well for former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez since he tried to force Google to out its user search queries in 2006.

But just think of all the free viral marketing Hakia will get from egobloggers looking for a new way to prove they reach an elite microaudience of highly targeted influentials, so elite that they speak only to each other, visit the same websites, and search for the same terms. Baby's gonna shoot right up Techmeme without having to buy Scoble dinner.