Social
Networking

Social Networking is a online collaborative tool as it allows users to create a personal profile on the web which can display information about the user whether this be through text or the use of image and video.

The major social networking sites of the present day are Twitter and Facebook.

Although the functions of the two are similar they both have very distinct and different features and ways of working.

Facebook, for example uses many online collaborative electronic conferencing tools such as online chat whereby users can communicate online either through leaving a message on a friends profile, messaging to their Facebook mail, similar to email, or simply through instant messaging. Video conferencing has also been introduced recently whereby users can communicate via webcam.

Twitter works in a different way, whereby users will follow other users and pages are updated through "tweets". This is when a user creates a status on their profile for followers to see. Tweets can be anything ranging from personal feelings or opinion to information about a certain activity. Users can also comment on other users profile, normally in reference to a tweet.

Both sites allow users to upload photos and videos.

The ability to upload images and videos could be regarded as the site having a wiki which shares image and video galleries.

On Facebook users can also tag/be tagged in other users photos, videos or posts and this will link to two profiles and be accessible for anyone to see.

Groups and organisations can also be created, creating an online collaboration of users regarding a topic or subject matter.

Events can also be organised and these can be both private or open to selected or any users. This also creates a collaboration as people show whether or not they will attend the event and can also discuss the subject matter.

These social networking sites are also available on digital devices such as mobile phones, ipods and ipads. This allows users to access their own and others data on the go wherever they are and they can also update and add to their profile at any time.