A social network is a social structure consisting of individuals or organizations that are like-minded and are tied by specific types of interests, values, visions, friendships, kinships, lifestyles, etc. Online social networking is a "trusted" network or online community where people and organizations can interact in various ways, such as IM (instant messaging/chat), email, video sharing, file sharing, blogging, discussion groups, etc.
Online social networking can be classified into two broad categories: general social networking and friend-of-a-friend (FOAF) social networking. Internet message boards, Yahoo groups and social bookmarking tools that let users add their own keywords (or tags) to webpages and blogs all fall under the general category of social networking.
FOAF social networking sites, on the other hand, are specifically designed to directly connect individuals and groups who share common interests and goals. Some popular FOAF sites include Myspace, Facebook, Friendster, Flickr and Ryze.
There are a number of ways your organization can join or create your own social network. NIU Outreach has a social network site you can join, which allows you to get connected with other NIU employees, learn interesting facts about your colleagues, and network with people throughout the NIU community. For more information about the NIU Social Network website, visit: NIU Outreach Social Network or email online@niu.edu
