What Is a Social Networking Service (SNS)?
A social networking service (SNS) is an online vehicle for creating relationships with other people who share an interest, background, or actual relationship. Social networking service users establish a profile with personal information and photos and form connections with other profiles. Users grow relationships with these connections through sharing, emailing, instant messaging, and commenting.
Understanding Social Networking Services (SNSs)
As indicated above, a social networking service is an online platform. It allows individuals to establish profiles, share content, and interact with others. Social networking services may also be referred to as social networking. Some of the most commonly used SNS include Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Social networking services function by enabling individuals to develop connections with others. Individuals can discover and connect with individuals they already know, such as family and acquaintances, or they can interact with strangers who may share similar interests with them.
The SNS business model is founded on online advertising either through targeted advertisements that utilize an individual's personal information, search patterns, location, or other types of data. Alternatively, it may sell users' personal information to third parties. Ubiquitous mobile technologies, such as smartphones and tablets, have aided the development of social SNS adoption and use.
SNS Characteristics
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While social networking services may take many forms, they share several characteristics, such as all utilizing the internet. Other similar characteristics include:
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User-generated content, such as photos, videos, and posts that enlighten other users about the activities and interests of the poster.
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The ability to connect individuals from all over the world, though some platforms recommend that individuals know one another in real life before connecting online.
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They are complimentary. Their business model is founded on the scope of their membership, therefore charging for use would be counterproductive. The possibility does remain that if a network grew large and useful enough, charging a fee may be feasible.
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They connect individuals with common histories, such as school attendance, work associates, or people who share a common interest.
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They may help forge and develop relationships between individuals who share a profession or business network.
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They may be used to assist individuals discover information, products, services, or resources that are relevant to them.
SNS Risks
Some users fret about the security of SNS profiles, as seen in the March 2018 revelations about Cambridge Analytica. The political information firm unlawfully harvested information from approximately 50 million profiles of users in the United States to target highly politicized content.
In addition to potential breaches of personal information, including tax and personal identification information, SNS users who are not cautious about their privacy settings discover that strangers can monitor their movements or see questionable photographs.
This is particularly a concern for job seekers whose potential employers might search for their profiles as part of the recruiting process. Social networking service overuse may contribute to despondency and anxiety. Such services may also facilitate bullying and other dangers to child safety.
Examples of SNSs
SixDegrees.com was the first SNS. It was established in 1997 and was shortly followed by Friendster, MySpace, and Facebook. Today, there is a wide variety of SNS and nearly 82% of Americans have SNS profiles. SNS span from sites where users have general interests to those where users have very specific interests.
Successful specialized SNS include YouTube, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Snapchat, Tumblr, Pinterest, and TikTok. SNS profiles are very prevalent across the globe. Facebook alone possesses over 2.96 billion users worldwide.
What Is the Most Popular Social Networking Service?
Facebook is the most prominent and most commonly used social networking service, according to Statista. This is based on the total number of active monthly consumers. Facebook is followed by YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, and WeChat.
Is Social Networking the Same As Social Media?
The terms social networking and social media are often used interchangeably but there is a very minor distinction between the two. Social media enables users to upload and share content with others while social networking provides users with a platform to connect and interact with others. These sites may also enable them to upload and share content as well, which is why many social networking services are also considered social media platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
What Is an Example of a Social Networking Service?
Facebook is one example of social networking. The platform, which is owned by Meta, enables users to sign up and create a profile. They can communicate with peers and others by sharing content, which includes photos, posts, and videos, among other things.
