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Online social networking is a web-based service, which provides an online community for people with similar interests or activities to share information through a social profile and communicate among other users (Chapman, 2009). The latest trends in social networking include popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and MySpace, which have changed the face of 21st century social media and transformed how individuals across the world interact and engage online. The following paper will discuss the roots of social networking technology, including innovations and breakthroughs made over the years, as well as the benefits of the technology, and potential ramifications including legal/ethical issues, security concerns, and social issues.
Online social networking is at its peak, with over millions of active users across the world, however the popular trend didn’t start with Facebook. The roots of social networking can actually date back to the 1970s, before the Internet became public, with early programs such as BBS and CompuServe. BBS, or Bulletin Board System was the primary means of online community in the 1980s and early 1990s before the Internet. This was a system, which allowed users to communicate through messages or download files on a network. The earliest technology of BBS showed a text-only interface, plus the system was mainly for local users to post subject-based bulletin boards on a particular topic (Nickson, 2009). Though BBS is now considered obsolete, it is still used in parts of the world where Internet is less prevalent. Another service that was available in the 1970s was CompuServe. This social networking site originally served as a communication site for businesses, however it gained public access in the late 1980s and offered services such as message exchange, file sharing, and access to news (Nickson, 2009). The site became widely popular among users with the unique feature of discussion forums for different subjects. Another site known as America Online (AOL) was also unique because it allowed users to create member profiles and establish communities. This helped establish the foundation for future social networking sites. With the growth Internet users, several sites emerged which were targeted to network a certain demographic of users. Classmates.com was one of these sites, used to locate high school friends and classmates. The site is still able to retain its popularity with over 40 million current users. Demographic based social networking services emerged to appeal to the Black, Asian, and Hispanic/Latino communities with sites such as BlackPlanet.com, AsianAvenue.com, and MiGente.com (Nickson, 2009).
Until then, social networking had started gaining attention, but it hadn’t fully developed into the booming social trend it is today. Social networking arrived at its turning point around 2002 with the launch of Friendster. This site enables member profile use with the ability to establish communities with likeminded people. LinkedIn started in 2003 to target a professional approach to networking with the linking of businesses to establish connections with different companies. This site is still widely popular today with over 30 million users (Nickson, 2009). MySpace also started in 2003 and is considered as one of the most popular social networking sites in the world. MySpace allows complete profile customization and is targeted towards the teen and young adult demographic with emphasis on music and entertainment. The social phenomenon of Facebook arrived in 2004 with original limited access to only college students. In 2006, Facebook opened its doors to the public and is now the most well known social networking site today. Facebook encompasses virtually all aspects of networking between friends, family, businesses, and entertainment artists, and offers a multitude of services including instant chat, event organizing, gaming, advertising, member profiles, and etc. Another popular site, known as Twitter also hit the market with access to social networking from hand held devices such as smart phones. This service is aimed on keeping users up to date on people’s statuses and events through posts made via computer or phone (Chapman, 2009). In today’s fast paced environment, Facebook and Twitter have become worldwide sensations with its accessible networking services, easy-to-use interface, and convenient mobility.