What is a Social Network

What is a social network and how does it play a role in today's society? This is a question that many are asking as networking via the Internet is becoming commonplace. Booming networks such as MySpace and YouTube are drawing more people online than ever before, offering them opportunities to network from the comfort of their homes or offices.

History of Social Networks

Social networks have always been around. People, in one way or another, have always met up to share stories, photos and gossip. It may not have been over the Internet, but it was still networking nonetheless. Social networks connect not only individuals, but help form relationships between groups, businesses, organizations, computers, Web sites and other information-processing entities. Social networks connect people with common:

• Values
• Visions
• Ideas
• Friends
• Hobbies
• Religious beliefs
• Kinship
• Conflicts
• Parenting styles
• Work ethics or beliefs
• Sexual relations
• Dislikes
• Conflicts

The term itself, social network, has been around for more than 100 years. It was originally used to connect people in different social systems -- from interpersonal to international. However, it wasn't until the 1950s when it was used to bind families, cultures, behaviors and attitudes. In the 1980s and 1990s, social networks branched out to the Internet, albeit they weren't as sophisticated or popular as they are today.

What is a Social Network Site?

With the advent of the Internet came a whole new way to communicate. People from all over the world were able to share not only their cultures, but political views and interests with just a few keystrokes instead of phone calls, letters or face-to-face meetings. Networking online allows users to connect instantly, sharing as much or as little information about themselves as they wish, while in some cases, remaining completely anonymous. All social network users have profiles that contain:

• Screen name or handle
• Information about the user
• A photograph or other picture
• Information about the user's last login
• A unique URL that can be visited directly instead of going through the network
• Public comments from other members that everyone can read

Networking online allows people to be more open about their thoughts and feelings without worrying about face-to-face criticism or rejection. To walk away from an online social network is as easy as turning off your computer.

Social networking sites can be public, private or a combination of the two. Public sites allow anyone to become a member and anyone has access to anything posted. Private sites are just that -- non-public channels that require users to register and meet certain criteria to become and remain a member. All information exchanged on the site is private. Channels that are a combination of the two allow prospective members to see what type of group it is without having access to any other member's personal information.

Popular Online Social Networks

New social networking sites are popping up every day, but all of them don't draw in the traffic to make them hits. Some of the more popular sites include:

• Classmates: One of the first social networking site created in 1995, more than 40 million registered members worldwide use this site to connect with former classmates, co-workers and military personnel.
• MySpace: The biggest social networks online with more than 200 million users, MySpace site helps people connect on a variety of levels.
• Facebook: One of the larger social networks originally designed as a means for college students to connect with one another. Today, there are more than 58 million users on Facebook.
• LinkedIn: What is a social network that deals only with business? LinkedIn may be one of the largest of this type of networks with more than 17 million registered users across 150 industries and 400 economic regions.
• YouTube: This is a video sharing network where registered users can upload and share video clips. You do not need to register to view the videos. There are more than 500,000 registered users and more than 61 million video clips uploaded to the site.

A Final Note

Social networks can be addicting and fun just as they can be dangerous. Make sure you understand the network you are joining and be careful about putting too much personal information in your profile. Remember, just as you can tell as much or as little about yourself online, so can the person with whom you are chatting.

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