EDP+279+Assignment+5.1

5-1 Social Networking Sites

A social network service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social relations among people. It is designed to connect people with others who share common interests and enjoy the same activities. Users create public profiles within that social networking site and form relationships with other users of the same website who access their profile. They use these profiles to communicate with others.

The most popular social networking sites on the web today include MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Ning, and Elgg. MySpace, found at @http://www.myspace.com/, was a relatively popular social networking site years ago, this popularity has been rapidly declining over recent years however. This may in fact be due to the rise of Facebook ( @https://www.facebook.com/ ). Facebook allows for users to post pictures, participate in online chats with others, and post information about their "likes". Twitter ( @https://twitter.com/ ) is another very popular social networking site. It is used to communicate with others by "tweeting" them as well as letting other "followers" know how you feel when you "tweet" about something. LinkedIn ( @http://www.linkedin.com/ ) is a social networking site that operates the world's largest professional network on the Internet. LinkedIn represents a valuable demographic for marketers with membership. Ning ( @http://www.ning.com/ ) is another popular social networking site. Ning is used for creating social websites. Such websites can be used in the classroom or for companies alike. The final social media I will be discussing is Elgg ( @http://www.elgg.org/ ). This is social networking engine is used to build social environments, such as through college or other organizations.

Each of these social networking sites has proved to be valuable. They are especially valued in businesses, organizations, and in schools. Education can utilize these social networking sites in order to better enhance the learning environment. Social networks can provide students with access to other's thoughts and ideas without limit. It can also provide ways for schools to make organizations/committees for school-wide events such as a bake sale. Social networking sites can also allow for students to have more access to each other so that if there is a group project assigned, they can communicate from the comfort of their home and not have to designate a special time/meeting space.

All in all, social networking sites are valuable tools and are important to education.

By: Ellen Justus