¶ … Social Networking

Social networks online are in many ways comparable to those that exist in neighborhoods, communities and cities worldwide. Online social networking however is much more real-time, with a concentration on creating Internet-capable applications that can communicate one-to-one, one-to-many or in some cases, many-to-many (Bernoff, Li, 2008). The foundation of social networking applications are in fact Web 2.0 technologies that enable more peer-to-peer information sharing across networks to individuals, groups and entire companies. Social networking is different than traditional Internet-based websites in that the former is much more interactive, allowing for real-time conversations. As a result, social networking including Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed and others, when analyzing using web site analysis tools from Compete.com for example, show the highest growth in visitors and subscribers of all classes of sites. Social networking's reliance on portal-based technologies that enable greater levels of information sharing are in turn ensuring scalability of these systems to a global level (Bernoff, Li, 2008). With the scalability and pervasiveness of these systems there is also the potential of turning them into advertising networks as well, as Google has done with their AdWords program (Anderson, 2008). For social networks, just as in our neighbors, cities and towns, when one is honest and accurate in what they say, they gain respect. Online social networks demand the same if not more transparency to gain trust. With so much focus on how to make money with social networks through advertising (Anderson, 2008) experts agree that keeping the networks free of too much clutter and advertising is already starting. Social networks are best online when they imitate the best ones offline, which are based on mutual respect, trust and proven and reliable means of communicating in trust with each other.

References

Mark Anderson. (2008). Google Searches for Ad Dollars in Social Networks. IEEE Spectrum, 45(12), 16. Retrieved March 7, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1613056621).

Josh Bernoff, Charlene Li. (2008). Harnessing the Power of the Oh-So-Social Web. MIT Sloan Management Review, 49(3), 36-42. Retrieved March 7, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1458948591).