5 replies to this topic

[ramki]

What are the elements the social networking consists of. Is it consists of

Blogs, Forums, Articles, etc? Please help!. Is that called social networking?

[Conspicuous]

I'm not sure there's an agreed upon dictionary definition, but I think SOCIAL is the key to the term. You are connecting to other people, whether you know them or not.

I think all the things you mentioned can certainly be part of what it is but it goes far beyond it. Social networks allow people to connect with others to share their interests and their lives.

Video and photo sharing sites like YouTube and Flickr allow you to open up your world to share your experiences. Sites like Twitter allow you to keep people up to the minute with what you're doing and where you're at.

Networking sites like MySpace and Facebook allow you connect to individuals and the people they know.

I think a very important thing to bear in mind is that true communication is a two-way channel. You can put something out there and others can comment, recommend, or otherwise respond to it. This is in stark contrast with a strictly broadcast medium.

[roxyyo]

[roxyyo]

I would define social networking as any site where you can add friends, message them, put up your photo etc. Think Flickr, DeviantArt, Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Minti, MothersClick, Dogster, Catster, Imeem - there's literally thousands. They can be general or niche.

They might let you blog or post videos, but to be a social networking site you need to be able to see members and add them. You can't do that on a blog, really. Blogs fall under the social media umbrella, sure. But they are not social networks.

[jass_blink]

They can be general or niche.

Hi Roxyyo
What do you mean by niche here? eloborate?

[Jill]

jb, I'm not roxyyo, but I believe she just means when she says niche that it can relate to a specific category or type of business.