From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A social network consists of any group of people connected through various social familiarities ranging from casual acqaintance to close familial bonds. Social networks are often the basis of cross-cultural studies in sociology and anthropology. There is also 'social network analysis' -- the mapping and measuring of social networks.
Online social networks became a fad in 2003 with the popularity of such websites as Friendster, Tribe.net (a joint of the Friendster with the Craigslist idea) and LinkedIn. Search engine Google launched Orkut on January 22, 2004.
See also: social contract, virtual community
Internet social networks
