What is Social Networking

By Fred Farah

What is social networking, and what does it mean to us, if anything yet. If you were asked to define social networking, would you be able to give an accurate definition? Perhaps many individuals cannot, even though they participate in some form of social networking by belonging to several of the more popular social sites.

Social networking is defined as a grouping of individuals into specific groups, much like a small community or neighborhood. Although social networking may exist in live mode, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions, if not more, of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users and develop friendships.

To participate in social networking online, you join some of the massive web sites known as social networking web sites. Social networking web sites are an online community of internet users.

Depending on the social networking website in question, many of these online community members share a common bond, be-it hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are admitted to a social networking web site you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profiles or profile pages of other members or even contacting them.

The friends that you make are just one of the many benefits to social networking. Unlike the offline world, the internet gives individuals, from all around the world, access to social networks. This means that although you are in the United States, you could develop an online friendship with someone in Japan, or China, or Scotland, endless possibilities. Not only will you make a new friend, you but may also learn a thing or two about foreign cultures.

Social networking usually involves grouping specific individuals or organizations together. While there are a number of social sites that focus on particular themes, there are others that don't. These websites are often classified as traditional social networking web sites.

These types of sites typically have an open membership. This means that anyone can become a member, no matter what their hobbies, beliefs, or views are. However, once you are inside this online community, you can begin to create your own network of friends.

If networking sounds like something that interests you, then you should learn more about it, such as the dangers of social networking. These dangers often involve online predators or individuals who claim to be someone that they are not. These predators are a serious danger to young children.

Once you have learned the fundamentals of each social site that interests you, you can decide which networking communities to join. This can easily be done by performing a standard internet search. Your search will likely return a number of results, including MySpace, FriendWise, FriendFinder, Yahoo! 360, Facebook, Orkut, Classmates and Twitter.

Allright then, now you've broken the ice regarding What is social networking. You've discovered fascinating things about each different site. Now your next challenge is to make your new knowledge work for you towards the goal of making money with Internet Marketing, using the full power of social networking. Stayed tuned, and go to the next article. There you'll see some great potential.

Fred Farah