Define Social Networks

Even for those who are constantly using social networks and the Internet as a whole, it is sometimes difficult to define social networks in words that actually explain what one is. There are so many social networks out there that one can partake in, that it seems like one should just know what a social network is and should not bother trying to define it.

The core factor involved in all social networks are people. Originally, social networking used to refer to people in real life interacting with others. The act of exchanging business cards used to be one of the most powerful social networking devices available to people. Real life social networking used to be defined by interacting with someone new and spreading your name around your social circle, or perhaps even entering a new circle.

This was especially of use to those in business. New job seekers would try to spread their name around and collect contacts. There were even groups available for these type of behaviors. However, now that a good part of communication is on the Internet, it may seem harder to define social networks.

On the Internet, there are numerous types of social networks - from Myspace to Linked In to Xspace. While each one may be different in purpose, there are three factors that connect these social networks and can help one to define them:

1. People
2. The ability to interact
3. The Ability to create your own 'personality'

The most important part of a social network is people. Without this, no social network would be able to call itself such. A large amount of people is perhaps the greatest factor that a network can boast about. The more people that a network has, the greater chance someone has to get their name out there, make friends, find a job, etc. Additionally, as most social networks are geared towards a specific purpose (such as making Christian friends or finding a date), the greater amount of people within a niche, the more likely a user is to find success in whatever they are looking to achieve.

While people are the most important factor in making a social network successful, the ability to interact with other people is perhaps the most important factor in defining a network. Without the ability to connect with others, networks would not be social. Some networks have instant messaging services (like Facebook), while others have message inboxes (like OK Cupid), while even others will only allow users to communicate with one another when they have a mutual friend (such as Linked In).

Generally, the type of communication available on a network is a reflection of the site's mission. A site for those looking for business contacts would not benefit from instant messaging, but a site for those looking for new friends would.

The third major component of defining a social network is the ability to create a personality. While in most cases, this persona that one creates is meant to be an accurate representation of ones self, it is important because it allows one to put a part of themselves in a social networking site. It is difficult to connect with other users if they feel they not only know very little about you but that they will also get little from you.

For example, users of sites like MySpace may find it harder to make friends if they do not have any photos or profile information, and users of LinkedIn may find job searching impossible if they have not stated any previous employment. The benefit of a profile personality is that another user can already gain an idea of who you are before speaking to you - making them more willing to contact you and making that contact more meaningful.

While the three most important components in defining a social network may be people, interaction and profiles, there are still dozens of little details that can define each individual social networking site.

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