Social Network Sites Overview

Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship

• Social network sites (SNSs) are web-based services that allow individuals to:
  • Create a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system.
  • Articulate a list of other users with whom they have connections.
  • View and traverse their connections, as well as connections made by others.
• SNSs have varying features and cultures, supporting a wide range of interests.
• Cultures around SNSs are diverse and may be influenced by pre-existing social networks, shared interests, or identities (political views, racial, sexual, or national).
• SNSs incorporate various communication tools like mobile connectivity, blogging, and photo/video sharing.
• The key difference between SNS and other computer-mediated communication (CMC) is the ability to articulate and make visible social networks.
• SNSs enable connections that wouldn't normally occur between "latent ties".
• SNSs are often used to connect with pre-existing social networks, rather than meeting new people.
• SNS users create profiles including a profile photo and information such as age, location, and interests.
• Profiles vary in visibility: some are public by default or customizable to "Friends only".
• A visible "Friends List" is a primary feature distinguishing SNSs from other CMC platforms.
• Users can communicate via comments and private messaging on SNS profiles.
• Early SNS sites evolved from different platforms; some started as message boards, others were created to maintain pre-existing relationships (e.g., high schools or universities).
• SixDegrees.com is considered the first recognizable SNS, launched in 1997.
• Many early SNSs focused on connecting people and establishing online communities.
• Some sites, like MySpace initially, gained popularity, but later faced challenges related to user engagement.
• Other SNSs like Facebook and Friendster focused on connecting users' pre-existing social networks more effectively.
• Some SNSs are designed to target specific demographic groups (e.g., businesses or ethnic communities).
• The emergence of SNSs is linked to wider societal shifts and an increasing reliance on the internet for social connection.
• Many academic scholars focus on impression management, relationship development, and identity within SNSs.

History of Social Network Sites

• The first recognizable SNS launched in 1997 (SixDegrees.com).
• The early years (1997-2001) saw the development of community tools supporting profile creation, articulation of relationships (Friends), and the ability to traverse such connections.
• Sites like AsianAvenue, BlackPlanet, and MiGente focused on ethnic communities, offering profile creation and social connections across diverse groups.
• Sites began to emerge with specific user focus such as Ryze (focused on business networking), Cyworld (Korean virtual worlds), and LiveJournal (blogging with expanded features).
• The rise of Friendster in 2002 aimed to connect friends-of-friends for dating, but later faced challenges due to rapid growth.
• MySpace became popular and integrated features such as messaging, multimedia, and band-fan interaction.
• Other SNS services adopted characteristics from early adopters, or focused on specific communities (like colleges or interest groups).

Previous Scholarship

• Scholarship on SNSs encompasses various disciplines and methodologies.
• Key areas of study include impression management, friendship performance, network structures, online/offline connections, and privacy issues.
• Researchers use various methods including survey data, content analysis of profiles, and observations.
• Current research focuses on the ways SNSs impact user behaviors both online and offline.

Overview of This Special Theme Section

• This section explores various SNS platforms like BlackPlanet, Cyworld, Dodgeball, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.
• Different perspectives and theories are used to examine the nature of online communities.
• The influence of SNSs in relationship and identity development is examined.

This quiz explores the definition, history, and scholarship around social network sites (SNSs). It highlights key features, cultural influences, and the unique aspects that differentiate SNSs from other forms of communication. Test your knowledge on how social connections are facilitated through these platforms.