Social networking platforms: online services for connecting, sharing, and communities

Common features

• Profile pages that display a user's name, photos, interests and other optional information.
• Tools to add or follow other users, forming a network of connections.
• Mechanisms for sharing text, images, video, or links with selected contacts or with the public.
• Privacy and notification settings that control who can see content and how people are alerted to activity.

Origins and development

The idea of Social Networking grew alongside the early World Wide Web, and later expanded as broadband, web applications and mobile devices made real-time online interaction more practical for large numbers of people.

How people use social networks

• Staying in touch with friends and family across distances.
• Finding and communicating with others who share hobbies, work roles or causes.
• Publishing content, following news, and discovering events or groups.
• Professional networking, recruiting, and brand promotion for businesses and organizations.

Access and devices

Most social networks are accessible from desktop browsers and from mobile applications on phones and smartphones. Mobile apps often provide features such as instant notifications, location tags, and camera integration to simplify sharing.

Workplace and societal effects

While these services can increase connectivity and information flow—examples include large platforms that allow rapid exchange of updates and news—organizations sometimes restrict access at work because of concerns about distraction or data security. At the same time, companies use social networks for customer service, marketing, and recruiting.

Usage data

Adoption of social networks has grown steadily since the 2000s. For example, a 2011 survey in the United States reported that about 47% of adults were users of a social networking service; more recent figures show higher rates in many countries, but exact numbers vary by study and region.