Social Networking Management
A social networking service is an online service,
platform, or site that focuses on facilitating the
building of social networks or social relations among
people who, for example, share interests, activities,
backgrounds, or real-life connections. A social network
service consists of a representation of each user (often
a profile), his/her social links, and a variety of
additional services. Most social network services are
web-based and provide means for users to interact over
the Internet, such as e-mail and instant messaging.
Online community services are sometimes considered as a
social network service, though in a broader sense,
social network service usually means an
individual-centered service whereas online community
services are group-centered. Social networking sites
allow users to share ideas, activities, events, and
interests within their individual networks. |
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Since their introduction, social network sites (SNSs)
such as MySpace, Facebook, Cyworld, and Bebo have
attracted millions of users, many of whom have
integrated these sites into their daily practices. As of
this writing, there are hundreds of SNSs, with various
technological affordances, supporting a wide range of
interests and practices.
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While their key technological features are fairly
consistent, the cultures that emerge around SNSs are
varied. Most sites support the maintenance of
pre-existing social networks, but others help strangers
connect based on shared interests, political views, or
activities. Some sites cater to diverse audiences, while
others attract people based on common language or shared
racial, sexual, religious, or nationality-based
identities. Sites also vary in the extent to which they
incorporate new information and communication tools,
such as mobile connectivity, blogging, and
photo/video-sharing. |
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