September 15, 2008
Someone just brought up a good question. What is social networking, and what are all those icons you see on Herald (and other) news articles?
Social networking is generally a series of individuals or groups with common interests or ideals such as values, visions or ideas. Online these ideals tend to gather in the form of Web sites such as MySpace or Facebook. These Web sites often offer communication between members whether it be message boards, blogging (journaling), e-mail, or chat. In its simplest definition social networking is designed to meet and share with those who have similar interests.
Social networking sites are used by individuals, groups, artists and performers, companies, governments and others for a variety of purposes. Some are interested in meeting like-minded business connections. Some are looking for dating or a relationship. Others may have the goal of promoting themselves or their appearances. Some wish to share or gather support for a political view or agenda. Social networking provides an outlet for these needs.
There are a number of social networking Web site on the Internet. The short list below provides descriptions of some of the more well-known ones.
Del.icio.us is a social networking site designed for users to share bookmarks. A visitor can add bookmarks they have that they think others might enjoy while at the same time browse and search bookmarks shared by others.
Digg and Reddit are Web sites where users share stories and content found elsewhere on the Internet. Someone might find an interesting article they would like others in their community to view. They in turn post their find to the Web site. If enough others share the interest and read the posting the content moves to the front page of the Web site. The more common interest a story has the higher profile it takes on the Web site.
Yahoo MyWeb is more of a repository for information one wishes to access from anywhere they have Internet access. One can post their favorite Web links or bookmarks or other information to their MyWeb area. Users can also share access with other users such as friends or family so that they too may benefit from the resource.
Facebook and MySpace are social networking sites where users can share information and contacts by writing an online journal. Others can view and comment on journals on MySpace thus creating the interactive or networking side of the Web site. Users can bookmark others as contacts or friends and in turn view their postings as well. Collectively these sites develop global networks of users who can communicate and share with each other.
A related term, Web 2.0, is often used to describe the thinking behind social networking or other sharing entities such as blogs (online journals or "Web logs") and Wikis (a collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content). It suggests that the World Wide Web has changed since its inception and is now into its second, or version 2.0, iteration. Web 2.0 refers to the way developers and end-users use the Web.
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