What is Social Networking?

Social networking - Have you heard of it yet not quite sure what it is? Some refer to it as a shift from

Tools for Supporting Individuals Tools for Supporting Relationships

Video: Social Networking in Plain English

Definitions of Social Networks

Topic Guru <www.topicguru.net> defines it as:
Social networking is a phenomena defined by linking people to each other in some way. Digg <http://digg.com/about> is a popular example of a social network (using social bookmarking). Users work together to rate news and are linked by rating choices or explicit identification of other members. Generally, social networks are used to allow or encourage various types of activity whether commercial, social or some combination of the the two.
boyd, d. m., & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), article 11. http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html define it as:

Web-based services that allow individuals to:

construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system

articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and

view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. The nature and nomenclature of these connections may vary from site to site.

Social networking is the grouping of individuals into special interest groups. Although social networking has been possible in a face to face environment, the online application of social networking has flourished with myriad types of social networks, allowing millions of individuals who are looking to connect other internet users to foster both friendships and professional relationships.

Websites are commonly used to provide a venue for networking. These websites are known as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.

Some of the benefits of social networking are:

Diversity -- You can connect with people all over the world, learning about other cultures and languages
Practicing social skills
Defined/guided social interaction

Some of the more well known Social Networks are:

MySpace <www.myspace.com> which is often in the news for violation of privacy issues, pornographic postings, spamming but they seem to be making efforts to control spammy applications: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052001751.html
Facebook <www.facebook.com> focuses on specific communities and users must have email which is associated with a community, ie .edu
LinkedIn <www.linkedIn.com> LinkedIn is an online network of more than 20 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.
Elgg is social networking software designed especially for education - built from the ground up to support learning.

Social Bookmarking:

Video: Social Bookmarking in Plain English <http://www.commoncraft.com/bookmarking-plain-english>

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del.icio.us: <http://del.icio.us/>

furl: <www.furl.net> Furl is a social bookmarking site that makes it easy to save, share, and explore favorite web pages