Is Social Networking Changing the World?

Activity on the World Wide Web (WWW) is much different than the WWW of a decade ago and is evolving in to a socialization experiment online. More than 1 billion people access the web and the opportunity for global communication, on any subject has bloomed. Web users also have an opportunity to collaborate and learn from many diverse areas. There has been a paradigm shift in the way we communicate. The possibilities are now endless. Social networking can be any group of people that communicate on topics they have in common, or they can debate on topics they disagree on. Social networking is used for commercial, business, niches, similar groups to gain momentum in the area of interest, which would be impossible without this real-time communication. Human socialization has made a leaped forward in time due to the interaction of people from all over the global on the web.

Just as there are different types of social networking groups, the age of the networker varies from the youngest to the oldest. Businesses can work on projects on line and charities can raise money and organize there plan by the internet. Social networking has been the evolution of an unmet need and the tool to meet that need. The largest and successful social networking sites grow through viral network marketing. In simple, the word of mouth, but sent virally to thousands with a few clicks on the keyboard. Products are made number one over night by some internet buzz, or a program can get blackballed by a few well placed critiques.

Most social networking sites have a focus. It could be photos, school, business, education, chat, blogging, military groups and hobbyist of all kinds. Some of the biggest social networking sites are Myspace, Facebook, Flicker and they have become household names. Sonico, a Spanish social networking group is one the biggest, however not widely known, with over 8 million registered users. The cultural implication of social networking is becoming apparent. Another cultural netmarketing group is BlackPlanet.com and dedicated to African Americans.

Niche communities are housed in the social network and are used by those that have the most in common. Subgroups and categories related to specific topics develop. Advertisement can be target at the specific topic or product and be exposed to people that are actually interested. There is a generation gap between the college age person with their parents and grandparents. Many older people do not understand or appreciate the power or necessity of the social interaction on the web. This does not detour the millions of networkers. This is a generational issue and the outcome could plot the path for social networking in the future. It is unlikely that the diehard networkers will be swayed buy lack of generation support. Social networking is too big to be suppressed. The internet has changed from a repository of information and data to a vessel for building commerce and relationships. Humans like to feel apart of something, it does not matter if it is across the world or in there own home.