Social+Network

=Social Networks/Networking=

Social Networks: How it works
toc We have all heard the notion of “six degrees of separation” this idea basically implies that everyone is connected or linked in someway with no more than six people separating them (Churchill et al). This whole idea is played upon with the idea of Social networks, in the 1950’s the term social networks was coined by Professor J.A. Barnes who explained the social network dimensions that grouped 100-150 individuals together (Wikipdia).

Older models of Social Networks are ICE (Integrated Collaboration Environment) (Haag et al). A social network, popularized by the internet consists of a networking system collectively composites the ties and nodes usually within one organization (Wikipedia). It allows for the users to connect to each other through diverse social commonalities. Social network are technology enabled, of course through the implementation of the internet people are able to connect to people they know and from there, to people your contacts know (Wikipedia). Online social networks facilitate businesses to build a network and from there find the people they need, and essentially make a trusted contact (Haag et al). Social networking has expanded into the business world, the website Linkedln launched in 2003, acts as the middleware where members can create a profiled that outlines job qualifications and contacts, from this network itself you can find potential clients, partners, and occupations (Langfitt). This website roughly accommodates 8 million professionals around the world.

How it Works?
“Social network theory views associations in terms of nodes and ties” (Wikipedia). Nodes are the individual players contained through the networks, and ties are the relationships between the different players (Wikipedia). The proposal behind this is that a social network plots out all the significant ties between the focused nodes. The shape of social networks can vary within different social networks; smaller networks allow those within the network to maintain strong relationships and vice versa for broad/big networks (Wikipdia). Although keeping in mind that opportunities that arise are mainly introduced in areas where the ties are not as strong. “The shape of the social networks helps determine networks usefulness to its individuals” (Wikipedia).

A set of individuals with alternate ties to separate social worlds will most probably have access to a variety of useful networks which works better than many ties within one single network (Wikipedia). Social networks are also used to determine how two separating companies can interact with one another and gather vital information such as notices on competitors and strategic advantages held by other companies. To receive a contact with valuable information can determine the make or break of a business.

Internet and Social Networks
The first recognized social network introduced on the internet was in 1995 called Classmates.com (Wikipedia), this generation might not recognize classmates other than the million ads and pop ups solicited over the internet. This online social network allowed students from the same high school to find each other and from there find even more contacts. The most recent rendition is what we all know as Facebook, which builds a community setting, through colleges and universities across North America, the website is used to advertise parties, events, photo albums, and also be part of more social/ethnic groups that allow the users to interact based on commonalities. Another competitor is Myspace who in 2005 received more page views than Google (Wikipedia). Different from the others, Myspace is well known marketing/ advertising strategy used amongst many artists who radiate their music, art, and fashion through this means of social networking.