Social networks
Social network — the Internet resource intended for interaction of people in group or in groups. Interesting feature of social network it is possible to note the fact that content of any such rusurs is provided and, often, redatirutsya by participants.
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Appointment and structure of social networks
As similarity of social network it is possible to consider any on-line community which members participate, for example, in discussions at a forum. The social network is also formed by readers of the thematic community created on any blog service. Many professional communities turned into a searching tool of people, the recommendations of employees and job search. The main feature of social networks are searching tools of the necessary contacts and establishment of communications between people. By means of tools of social network each its user can create the virtual portrait — to create the profile in which to specify in detail data on itself (date of birth, school, university, hobbies and another), the experience, hobbies, interests and the purposes. According to this information other participants will be able to find the account of the user. Existence of the profile already allows to use search mechanisms of adherents, brothers in faith, colleagues, people, communication with which is necessary on work and study. The social network offers the following set of standard services: storage of a personal card with a contact information, the on-line address directory, an on-line organizer which is available from any computer storage of multimedia data of the user, an opportunity to limit communication with unwanted persons, etc. So the person receives kind of own "residence" on the Internet, and even close not similar to the personal websites which so extended at the beginning of the Internet. Communication is performed by means of service of internal mail or instant messaging.
Also there are social networks for search not only people on interests, but also objects of these interests: vebsayt, the listened music, etc. Besides, specialists in the organization found the tool of social networks very convenient for participants of different conferences. Previously, before holding a conference, the website with elements of social network where each employee registered on an action automatically "brings" to himself a profile to networks is created and can come into contacts with people most interesting to it prior to the action, communicate with them online, make an appointment during the conference or out of it. A system itself builds communication between participants, considering proximity of the professional interests specified in a profile.
Functions of social networks
- Creation of individual profiles which will contain certain information on the user.
- Interaction of users (by means of viewing profiles of each other, internal mail, comments and so forth)
- Possibility of achievement of the joint purpose by cooperation (for example, search of new friends, maintaining the group blog and so forth can be the purpose of social network).
- Resource interchange (for example, links to the websites).
- Possibility of satisfaction of requirements for the accumulation account of resources (for example, by participation in social network it is possible to get new acquaintances and by that to satisfy the need for communication).
Distinctive features of social networks
- Self-presentation (profile, blog).
- Communication (internal mail, comments, subscriptions).
- Cooperation (group blog, Wiki).
- Socialization (system of "friends" and "groups").
History of social networks
The first interactive methods of communication between Internet users can be considered guest books. Evolution of guest books led to emergence of electronic bulletin boards. These places for online communication were very effective, they allowed users to contact the central system where they could load files or games and to send messages to other users. Distribution of electronic bulletin boards led to emergence of forums. Which in an effect turned into blogs and Web blogs. Evolution of forums, blogs and Web blogs led to emergence of social networks. Social network - a special case of a dating site. It is possible to call social network an advanced forum with enhanced capabilities.
Classification of social networks
1) Social networks in free access.
- Not specialized networks (for them professional communities are not primary)
- Especially professional communities of practicians.
2) Social networks in a corporate format
- Networks in free access
- Not specialized (network of "the general profile")
Not specialized social networks are understood as the communities on the Internet which do not have restrictions on any parameters and not having any thematic specialization.
Specialized social networks usually are the platform for communities of specialists. They are called communities of practicians (Community of Practice, CoP) both pursue especially practical aims and integrates people who are interested in acquisition and development of knowledge in a certain area, their use in practice. Communities of practicians can consist of scientists, engineers, marketing and sales specialists and other specialists. And these communities shall not be limited to a framework of one company, and can integrate people with similar interests in the different organizations worldwide. CoP differ from communities on interests — its participants are integrated not only by aspiration to a certain knowledge domain, but also desire to cooperate in process of use of this knowledge in practice. Associates well understand each other as work on similar problems. They are capable to estimate skill level, problems of colleagues, to gain from each other knowledge lacking them.
Social networks in a corporate format first of all are the instrument of internal communications.
Market of social networks
Social networks are a fast-growing segment of the market of Internet advertizing.
Russian social networks
Foreign social networks
Main article: Social networks (world market)
Security and problems of social networks