Network with Friends

Social networking sites saturate the Internet, and it’s easy to see why.  These sites establish communities of people who share interests and activities. Some networks are quite general but others are ultra-specific.  That means no matter what your religion, race, gender, profession, or hobbies are, there’s a social network to connect you with the people like you.

 

If you’re interested in a simple and fun way to stay in touch with friends and family, try a popular general social networking site. Networks like MySpace and Facebook have almost as much traffic as Google. Anyone can sign up for free, and once you’re a member, you can set up a personal profile and communicate with other users.  Send a friend a private message or post public information about a party you’re having.

 

But there’s more to those networks than verbal communication.  Part of what makes the sites so addictive is the pictures. Within your network, you can share your favorite photos and short videos.  Find out what your friend from high school looks like now or see your cousin’s new baby – all through your social networking profile.   

 

Network for Dates
Looking for more than just a friend?  Set up a profile on a dating website.  These social networking sites help you find your perfect match. Want Mr. Right to be a Christian? Jewish? Deaf? Fitness-oriented?  No problem – sites like Match.com, eHarhomy.com, and Plentyoffissh.com use in-depth profiles, pictures, and personality tests to create lasting romantic relationships among compatible users.  
Though most dating sites let you post profiles and browse photos for free, they charge you if you want to join the network and meet other users. But what’s a sign-up fee compared to the lasting joy of finding your soul mate?

Network Virtually
Then there are the social networking sites that make life a little more… animated. For example, Second Life is a networking site that lets users cross into a 3-D virtual world where they create their own online persona. In this virtual world, online characters can go anywhere and do anything:  attend concerts, go to work, buy real estate, and meet people. You communicate with other users via instant messaging, chat rooms, or email. Lots of users like these types of social networks because they are more anonymous – users never actually see the real people they interact with.  

Network in Person
For lots of people, the best social networking combines the online environment with the real world. On sites like Meetup.com, users join local groups that match their interests. These groups communicate online, but they also have the chance to attend real activities in person. Then after meeting in person for events, users go back to the online network and blog about their experiences or post relevant pictures.  This way, people get the best of both worlds:  online communication and physical interaction with friends.

Now that we’ve gotten you interested in joining a social network online, we have to give you a quick but crucial safety tip:  Remember to be careful.  Don’t post private or proprietary information on your online profiles and be careful when meeting a new friend in person for the first time. Social networking is lots of fun, but it’s no excuse to forget about common sense.