Social Networking Sites
Last updated: August 31, 2007
When people talk about a computer
network
they generally are referring to a group of computer systems linked
together. Within the network each computer system or device is
called a node. The idea behind
a social network is similar, only the nodes are generally individuals, groups or
organizations.
Computer networks also encompasses mapping, which is making logical
connections between two entities. In social networking, mapping refers to
the relationships between individuals and how they are connected
(e.g., through friends, family, work and so on).
What Are Social Networking Sites
Social networkinig services, also called social networking
sites (SNS), are
designed to build upon interactions to create
communities of people online, and provide the required software to
do this. Web-based social networking spaces offer a way for
individuals or groups to create a profile of themselves, then share
that profile with other members of the social networking space. The
specific site also provides a variety of ways for users to communicate with
others in the space, such as
instant messaging and chat rooms,
e-mail or site
mail (used only use through the service), notes and
blogs, file
sharing, forums or other types of discussion groups, videos, and so
on.
Many social networking sites today do
offer some form of privacy by allowing its users to choose a public, private or limited viewing profile. On some sites two users must
both agree to be "friends" before they can see each others' private
profile information. Other sites may not offer this, but will
provide options so that let you control how much
information is viewable to other members of the service.
People use social networking sites
for a huge number of personal reasons. Some may want an easy way to
keep in touch with family and friends, some may use it for business
or job finding, others may use it for dating or just to find
like-minded individuals online.
The Origins of Social Networking Sites
One of the first social networking Web sites, launched in 1997, was SixDegrees.com. This site started the trend of enabling users to
create personal profiles and make lists of their friends. Two years after
the fall of SixDegrees, LiveJournal offered authors options to add a list of
friends to their profile page. Other early social networking sites include
Friendster and online dateing service Ryze. MySpace launched in 2003. However, the site didn't start drawing the attention of the masses until well
into 2004, due largely in part to MySpace changes that allowed teenagers to
join the social network.
|
RECOMMENDED
READING:
This
excerpt from the JCMC Special Issue on Social Network
Sites provides a historical overview of social networking
sites. |
Security Concerns
Like all Internet technologies, social networking sites also come
with their fair share of security concerns, mostly privacy issues. Each social networking service
offers its own privacy policy, and it is important to carefully read
the policy before creating a membership and adding a profile. The
selection below are excerpts from different privacy policies concern
areas of interest and provide users with information on how the
social networking site will use your information.
"Facebook may use
information in your profile without identifying you as an
individual to third parties."
"We may use
information about you that we collect from other sources,
including but not limited to newspapers and Internet sources
such as blogs, instant messaging services, Facebook Platform
developers and other users of Facebook, to supplement your
profile."
Facebook's Privacy
Policy
"Except as
otherwise described in this privacy statement, MySpace will not
disclose personal information to any third party unless we
believe that disclosure is necessary: (1) to conform to legal
requirements or to respond to a subpoena, search warrant or
other legal process received by MySpace.com, whether or not a
response is required by applicable law..."
"MySpace reserves
the right to transfer personal information to a successor in
interest that acquires rights to that information as a result of
the sale of MySpace or substantially all of its assets to that
successor in interest."
MySpace Privacy Policy
"Friendster does
not have access to or control of the cookies that may be placed
on the computer of any Member or other user of the Friendster
website by the third-party ad servers or ad networks."
Friendster Privacy Policy
Social Networks Online Today
Social networking sites are growing by the day. comScore Media Metrix pegs
traffic to MySpace.com at 114 million global visitors in June 2007.
Facebook.com saw 52.2 million visitors and Bebo.com attracted 18.2 million
visitors. Not only are established social networking groups growing, but new
social networking services are launched with more frequency also. To this
end our list of services is by no means a complete list, but it certainly
can help you find a good networking site in which to create a profile and
start socializing.
Vangie 'Aurora' Beal -
Writer, www.Webopedia.com
Last updated: August 31, 2007
JCMC Special Issue on Social Network Sites
While we are using the term "social network site" to define this space, another
common term that appears in public discourse is "social networking sites."
Less
than six degrees of social networking and Web 2.0 goodness
Every product or service is fewer than six degrees away from other products and
a perhaps few more degrees distant from adjacent categories, such as photo and
video sharing to social networks.
Jaxtr Looks to Give Social Networking a Voice
Starting today you can test out a new service that attempts to combine the best
of social networking with Internet-based telephony.
The Social Software Web
log
Home of the Social Networking Services Meta List
Tracing the Evolution of Social Software
The term 'social software', which is now used to define software that
supports group interaction, has only become relatively popular within
the last two or more years. |
