History[edit]

In the late 1890s, both mile Durkheim and Ferdinand Tnnies foreshadowed the idea of social networks in their theories
and research of social groups. Tnnies argued that social groups can exist as personal and direct social ties that either
link individuals who share values and belief (Gemeinschaft, German, commonly translated as "community") or impersonal,
formal, and instrumental social links (Gesellschaft, German, commonly translated as "society").[7] Durkheim gave a nonindividualistic explanation of social facts, arguing that social phenomena arise when interacting individuals constitute a
reality that can no longer be accounted for in terms of the properties of individual actors. [8] Georg Simmel, writing at the
turn of the twentieth century, pointed to the nature of networks and the effect of network size on interaction and examined
the likelihood of interaction in loosely knit networks rather than groups. [9]
Major developments in the field can be seen in the 1930s by several groups in psychology, anthropology, and
mathematics working independently.[6][10][11] In psychology, in the 1930s, Jacob L. Moreno began systematic recording and
analysis of social interaction in small groups, especially classrooms and work groups (see sociometry). In anthropology,
the foundation for social network theory is the theoretical and ethnographic work of Bronislaw Malinowski,[12] Alfred
Radcliffe-Brown,[13][14] and Claude Lvi-Strauss.[15] A group of social anthropologists associated with Max Gluckman and
the Manchester School, including John A. Barnes,[16] J. Clyde Mitchell and Elizabeth Bott Spillius,[17][18] often are credited
with performing some of the first fieldwork from which network analyses were performed, investigating community
networks in southern Africa, India and the United Kingdom. [6] Concomitantly, British anthropologist S.F. Nadel codified a
theory of social structure that was influential in later network analysis. [19] In sociology, the early (1930s) work of Talcott
Parsons set the stage for taking a relational approach to understanding social structure. [20][21] Later, drawing upon Parsons'
theory, the work of sociologist Peter Blau provides a strong impetus for analyzing the relational ties of social units with his
work on social exchange theory.[22][23][24] By the 1970s, a growing number of scholars worked to combine the different
tracks and traditions. One group consisted of sociologist Harrison White and his students at the Harvard University
Department of Social Relations. Also independently active in the Harvard Social Relations department at the time
were Charles Tilly, who focused on networks in political and community sociology and social movements, and Stanley
Milgram, who developed the "six degrees of separation" thesis. [25]Mark Granovetter[26] and Barry Wellman[27] are among the
former students of White who elaborated and championed the analysis of social networks
David mile Durkheim (French: [emil dykm] or [dykajm];[1] April 15, 1858 November 15, 1917) was a
French sociologist, social psychologist and philosopher. He formally established the academic discipline and, with Karl
Marx and Max Weber, is commonly cited as the principal architect of modern social science and father of sociology.[2]
[3]
Much of Durkheim's work was concerned with how societies could maintain their integrity and coherence in modernity;
an era in which traditional social and religious ties are no longer assumed, and in which new social institutions have come
into being. His first major sociological work was The Division of Labour in Society (1893). In 1895, he published The
Rules of Sociological Method and set up the first European department of sociology, becoming France's first professor of
sociology.[4] In 1898, he established the journal L'Anne Sociologique. Durkheim's seminal monograph, Suicide (1897), a
study of suicide rates in Catholic and Protestant populations, pioneered modern social research and served to distinguish
social science from psychology and political philosophy.The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life (1912) presented a
theory of religion, comparing the social and cultural lives of aboriginal and modern societies.
Ferdinand TnniesGemeinschaft may be exemplified historically by a family or a neighborhood in a pre-modern (rural)
society; Gesellschaft by a joint-stock company or a state in a modern society, i.e. the society when Tnnies
lived. Gesellschaft relationships arose in an urban and capitalist setting, characterized by individualism and impersonal
monetary connections between people. Social ties were often instrumental and superficial, with self-interest and
exploitation increasingly the norm. Examples are corporations, states, or voluntary associations.
Definition
Social networking is the practice of expanding the number of one's business and/or social contacts by
making connections through individuals. While social networking has gone on almost as long as societies
themselves have existed, the unparalleled potential of the Internet to promote such connections is only
now being fully recognized and exploited, through Web-based groups established for that purpose.
Seven Major Social Network Categories
1. Social Connections
Keeping in touch with friends and family members is one of the greatest benefits of social networking.
Here is a list of the most widely-used websites for building social connections online.

Facebook: Arguably the most popular social media utility, Facebook provides a way for users
to build connections and share information with people and organizations they choose to interact
with online.
Twitter: Share your thoughts and keep up with others via this real-time information network.

Google +: This relatively new entrant to the social connection marketplace is designed to
allow users to build circles of contacts that they are able to interact with and that is integrated
with other Google products

MySpace: Though it initially began as a general social media site, MySpace has evolved to
focus on social entertainment, providing a venue for social connections related to movies, music
games and more.

2. Multimedia Sharing
Social networking makes it easy to share video and photography content online. Here are some of the
most popular sites for multimedia sharing.

YouTube: Social media platform that allows users to share and view video content
Flickr: This site provides a powerful option for managing digital photographs online, as well
as for sharing them with others.

Picasa: Similar to Flickr, Picasa provides a way to organize and share photos. It is a Google
product and so offers integrated tagging and sharing with Google+.

3. Professional
Professional social networks are designed to provide opportunities for career-related growth. Some of
these types of networks provide a general forum for professionals to connect, while others are focused on
specific occupations or interests. A few examples of professional social networks are listed below.

LinkedIn: As of November of 2011, LinkedIn had more than 135 million members, making it
the largest online professional network. Participants have an opportunity to build relationships by
making connections and joining relevant groups.
Classroom 2.0: Social network specifically designed to help teachers connect, share and help
each other with profession-specific matters.
Nurse Connect: Online community designed to help individuals in the nursing profession
connect and communicate with each other.

4. Informational
Informational communities are made up of people seeking answers to everyday problems. For example,
when you are thinking about starting a home improvement project or want to learn how to go green at
home, you may perform a web search and discover countless blogs, websites, and forums filled with
people who are looking for the same kind of information. A few examples include:

Super Green Me: Online community where individuals interested in adopting green living
practices can interact
HGTV Discussion Forums: Connect with individuals interested in home design improvement
via the HGTV message boards
Do-It-Yourself Community: Social media resource to allow do-it-yourself enthusiasts to
interact with each other

5. Educational
Educational networks are where many students go in order to collaborate with other students on academic
projects, to conduct research for school, or to interact with professors and teachers via blogs and
classroom forums. Educational social networks are becoming extremely popular within the educational
system today. Some examples of such educational social networks are listed below.

The Student Room: UK-based student community featuring a moderated message board and
useful resources related to school
The Math Forum: A large educational network designed to connect students with an interest
in math, this site provides interaction opportunities for students by age group.
ePALS School Blog: This international social network for K-12 students is designed to build
international connections to promote world peace.

6. Hobbies
One of the most popular reasons many people use the Internet is to conduct research on their favorite
projects or topics of interest related to personal hobbies. When people find a website based on their
favorite hobby, they discover a whole community of people from around the world who share the same
passion for those interests. This is what lies at the heart of what makes social networks work, and this is
why social networks that are focused on hobbies are some of the most popular. A few examples of hobbyfocused social networking sites include:

Oh My Bloom: Social media site specifically for gardening enthusiasts. It features groups,
forums, blogs, video content and more.
My Place at Scrapbook.com: Designed specifically for scrapbooking enthusiasts, users can
create profiles, share information, post updates and more.
Sport Shouting: An online destination for sports fans to voice their opinions and connect with
other enthusiasts.

7. Academic
Academic researchers who want to share their research and review results achieved by colleagues may
find academic-specific social networking to be quite valuable. A few of the most popular online
communities for academics are:

Academia.edu: Users of this academic social network can share their own research, as well as
follow research submitted by others.

Connotea Collaborative Research: Online resource for scientists, researchers and clinical
practitioners to find, organize and share useful information.

Build Connections with Caution

These are just a few examples of the many opportunities to engage in dialog via social media websites.
The fact that there are so many ways to connect with like-minded individuals online can be very exciting
and beneficial, but it's essential to proceed with caution. Keep in mind that not everyone who shows up on
a social media website is who he or she claims to be. Exercise caution and closely guard your personal
information any time you engage in social networking activities regardless of what kind of social utility you
are using.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking

Whether you are a social network addict, a novice dabbler, or you are thinking
about trying online networking, you probably have some questions about the
advantages and disadvantages of social networking. For example, can it really
increase one's productivity or does it just waste valuable time? How safe is it?
Before you invest too heavily in online social communities, be sure to do your due
diligence so you are aware of the risk versus the reward. Here's what you need to
know to help you make an informed decision.
Five Advantages of Social Networking
1. Worldwide Connectivity
No matter if you are searching for that former college roommate, your first grade teacher, or an
international friend, there is no easier or faster way to make a connection than via the social network.
Although Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace are probably the most well known social networking
communities, there are new websites popping up regularly that are dedicated to allowing people to
connect and to interact via the Internet. Through such sites, individuals make new friends or business
connections or extend their personal base by connecting and interacting with friends of friends and so
forth.
These connections can help one with a variety of things such as:

Finding romance
Seeking a new job

Locating assistance

Getting and giving product and service referrals

Receiving support from like-minded individuals

Making or receiving advice on career or personal issues

In many ways, social communities are the virtual equivalent of meeting at the general store or at church
socials to exchange news and get updated on friends and families. Snail mail pen pals have been replaced
by virtual avatars and private messages sent via the social network.
2. Commonality of Interest
When you opt to participate in a social network community, you can pick and choose those individuals
whose likes and dislikes are similar to yours and build your network around those commonalities. For
instance, if you are a chess aficionado or a book lover, you can find and interact with those who share your
interest. Because you are connecting digitally instead of having to physically attend meetings, you have
the luxury of joining many more groups and communities. You can meet with your friends anytime you
have an Internet connection and whenever you find them online.
3. Real-Time Information Sharing
Many social networking sites incorporate an instant messaging feature, which means you can exchange
information in real-time via a chat. This is a great feature for teachers to use to facilitate classroom
discussions. A study by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation shows these networks can be
used as effective vehicles for students to pursue self-paced online learning. In addition, the Internet is the
ultimate online textbook. Students no longer need to take out six library books at a time. Much of what
they need to know they can find online.

School is not the only setting where this type of real-time information sharing can be beneficial. Social
networking can provide a tool for managers to utilize in team meetings, for conference organizers to use
to update attendees and for business people to use as a means of interacting with clients or prospects.
4. Free Advertising
Whether you are non-profit organization who needs to get the word out about your upcoming fundraiser or
a business owner marketing a new product or service, there's no better way to get your message in front
of millions of people 24/7. The best part is it that you can spread the word through social networking
profiles for free. You can promote one product, service or idea or many because you are limited only by
the amount of time you wish to invest in the endeavor.
5. Increased News Cycle Speed
Social networking has revolutionized the speed of the news cycle. Many news organizations now partner
with social networking sites like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook in order to both collect and share
information. One can get a sense of what is going on in the world just by watching trending topics from
many of these sites. This has led to the development of a near instantaneous news cycle as millions of
social networking updates rapidly spread news and information.
Five Disadvantages of Online Social Communities
1. Face to Face Connections are Endangered
A huge advantage of these social communities has a reverse side effect that is also a big disadvantage of
social networking: they reduce or eliminate face-to-face socialization. Because of the autonomy afforded
by the virtual world, individuals are free to create a fantasy persona and can pretend to be someone else.
It is hard to say no, be rude, or ignore someone when you are looking them in the eye. It's incredibly easy
and quick to unfriend or unfollow someone or simply block their efforts to make a connection. Just one
click of the mouse and your problems are over. Unfortunately, this feature of online socialization cheats
people of the opportunity to learn how to resolve conflicts in the world outside the Internet and it could
retard or cripple one's social skills developments.
Tweens and teens are at higher risk because those years are when they are learning to interact with
others or build and maintain relationships. A report from theNational School Boards Association shows that
of the children in these age groups that use a social network, 41 percent spend their time posting
messages. They are not spending this time in face-to-face interactions with their peers or others nor are
they developing the necessary social skills for future success.
2. Cyberbullying and Crimes Against Children
Use of social networks can expose individuals to harassment or inappropriate contact from others. Unless
parents are diligent to filter the Internet content to which their families are exposed, children could be
exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content.
The Pew Center, in their Cyberbullying 2010 report, states that 93 percent of teens aged 12 to 17 use the
Internet. Of that 93 percent, 63 percent of them use the Internet daily. Such high usage increases the risk
of their being victims of cyberbullying or other cyber crimes.
3. Risks of Fraud or Identity Theft
Whether you like it or not, the information you post on the Internet is available to almost anyone who is
clever enough to access it. Most thieves need just a few vital pieces of personal information to make your
life a nightmare and if they successfully steal your identity, it could cost you dearly. A report
on CNET reveals over 24 million Americans put their personal information at risk by posting it on public
sites such as social communities.
4. Time Waster
A Nielsen report explains that social networking can be a big waste of time that sucks 17 percent of our
Internet time down the non-productivity drain. While it is true that some of that time is likely spent in
making and maintaining important business, social or professional connections, it is also true that it is
easy to become distracted and end up spending valuable time on games, chats or other non-related
activities. Dorie Clark of the Huffington Post reports Facebook users spend about six hours each month on
the site, while social networkers spend three times as much time on those communities as they do on
other online activities like email.
5. Corporate Invasion of Privacy
Social networking invites major corporations to invade your privacy and sell your personal information.
Have you ever posted a comment on Facebook, only to notice an advertisement appear with content
related to your post? Facebook projects it will earn $3.8 billion in revenue in 2011. That's not bad for a
free site. If Facebook and other social networking sites don't charge their members, however, how do they
make so much money? They do it by selling the ability to specifically target advertisements. On social
networking sites, the website isn't the product, its users are. These sites run algorithms that search for
keywords, web browsing habits, and other data stored on your computer or social networking profile and
provide you with advertisements targeted specifically to you. At the same time, you may be giving the site
permission to share your information with outside sources unless you specifically generate settings that
disallow them to do so. Participating in applications like Farmville may also be allowing outside vendors
access to your private information.
Are Social Networks Harmful to Society or Not?
Because networking in online social communities is still a relatively young online trend, whether or
not social networking is harmful is still unknown. Like any other type of networking or social club with
which individuals become involved, it is a good idea to do your homework and make sure that you know
what you are getting into. Understand the terms of use, the rules and regulations, and be clear on issues
like security and privacy.

Take responsibility for your own safety and integrity and never join something just because it is trendy or
all your friends are doing it. In evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of social networking, it's best
to err on the side of caution and information. After all, the lack of both can have a devastating effect.