What is “Social Networking” anyway?

category: How Tos
by Peter,

We hear this term frequently in the media, but what does it actually mean and refer to? Social networking is an umbrella term. Sometimes it is used to describe sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and Twitter. More accurately though it is a term used to denote a trend toward people connecting and interacting online. Blogging was just the forerunner to this trend.

Much is now being written on how these sites and trends can be used to promote commercial interests on the web, focusing mostly on adding value through blogs and newsletters.

In some ways the social networking phenomenon is not that new. Very earlier services on the Internet such as bulletin boards and newsgroups created similar communities.

But it is not all good. There have been concerns about privacy and the ownership of images and materials uploaded to these sites. Facebook particularly coming in for close criticism and a vitriol. Bottom line is common sense (as it is in the offline world)… if you do not want some corporation to claim copyright on your photo, don’t upload it. Don’t make anyone a “friend” who simply isn’t.

One thing is certain, we are going to be doing more social networking as people’s physical location becomes less relevant and work practices more flexible. Wikipedia’s outline on social networking is here >>

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