Sunday, May 5, 2013

A Guide to Social Networks

Social Networks can be a great home on the web, can help you connect with people or reconnect with long-lost friends, and can even help your career by making business contacts. Social networks range from friends-based networks like Facebook and MySpace to music and movie networks like Flixster and Last.FM to business social networks like LinkedIn and XING.





Facebook

It hasn't taken long for Facebook to become the most popular social network on the planet. With the multitude of Facebook applications extending its use and the ease of Facebook Connect to use as a login for various websites, Facebook has become our home on the web.

General and Friends-based Social Networks

General social networks do not focus on a particular topic or niche. Instead, they put the emphasis on staying connected to your friends and connecting with new people. These friends-based networks often allow you to join groups and connect with people who have similar interests.

Movie and Music Social Networks

Movie and music social networks focus on connecting people to others who enjoy similar interests in movies or music. They can be a great resource for finding more information about a movie you enjoyed, discovering new music by checking out the playlists of people with similar interests, or just kicking back and playing a movie trivia game.

Mobile Social Networks

Mobile users constitute one of the biggest areas of growth in the online market. A number of social networks have sprung up that cater to mobile users in order to better suit their needs. These social networks can be great for arranging impromptu meetings while out on the town.

Pet Social Networks

Did you think social networks were limited to humans? Many different social networks have sprung up devoted to our hairy, four-legged and sometimes slithering-on-their-stomach friends. These pet-based social networks are not only great for meeting other pet owners, but also can be an excellent resource if you are in dire need of finding adopters of a surprise litter.

Hobby and Special Interest Social Networks

Hobby and special interest social networks range from those devoted to biking or sports to those who focus on sharing car reviews or dispensing medical advice. They can be a great source of entertainment, information and a great place to go for advice.

Business Social Networks

Social networks aren't all about fun and games. Social networking in business goes back long before the Internet when use of the 'buddy system' could be the best way to find a job. Business social networks bring that buddy system into the digital age by allowing you to quickly and easily maintain a list of business contacts and make new business connections.

Reading and Books Social Networks

Just finished up with a great book and looking for something similar to read? Reading and book-based social networks can be a great place to find people who share your taste in books. They are a great way to get book reviews, let friends know what your are reading, recommend the latest book that blew you away, and simply share information about literature.





NameDescription/FocusDate launchedRegistered usersRegistrationGlobalAlexa[1]Page ranking
43 ThingsGoal setting and achievement1 January 20053,000,000[2]Open13,574[3]
Academia.eduSocial networking site for academics/researchersSeptember 2008211,000[4]Open3,872[5]
AdvogatoFree and open source software developers199913,575[6]Open318,165[7]
aNobiiBooks2006Open13,131[8]
AsianAvenueA social network for the Asian American community1997Open133,043[9]
aSmallWorldEuropean jet set and social elite world-wideMarch 2004550,000[10]Invite-only8,780[11]
AthlinksRunning, Swimming2001139,458[12]Open60,677[13]
Audimated.comIndependent music2010Open656,507[14]
BeboGeneralJuly 2005117,000,000[15]Open to people 13 and older4,169[16]
BIGADDAIndian Social Networking SiteAugust 20073,000,000[17]Open to people 16 and older42,765[18]
Biip.noNorwegian community1 June 2005430,000[19]Requires Norwegian phone number81,916[20]
BlackPlanetBlack Americans1 September 199920,000,000[21]Open7,193[22]
BlaukAnyone who wants to tell something about a stranger or acquaintance.2010Open to people 13 and older.1,081,215[23]
BlogsterBlogging community24 November 200585,579[24]Open12,048[25]
Bolt.comGeneral1996Open589,595[26]
BusuuLanguage learning community (headquartered in Madrid, Spain)16 May 200812,000,000[27]Open4,976[28]
BuzznetMusic and pop-culture200510,000,000[29]Open6,955[30]
CafeMomMothersDecember 20061,250,000[31]Open to moms and moms-to-be1,293[32]
Care2Green living and social activism19989,961,947[33]Open1,930[34]
CaringBridgeNot for profit providing free websites that connect family and friends during a serious health event, care and recovery.[35]9,500,000[36]Open to people 18 and older[37]4,279[38]
Classmates.comSchool, college, work and the military199550,000,000[39]Open to people 18 and older[40]3,284[41]
CloobGeneral. Popular in Iran2004Open749[42]
CouchSurfingWorldwide network for making connections between travelers and the communities they visit.20032,967,421[43]Open2,231[44]
CozyCotEast Asian and Southeast Asian women2001150,000[45]Open36,959[46]
Cross.tvFaith Based social network for Christian believers from around the world2008450,000[47]Open53,394[48]
CrunchyrollAnime and forums.2006Open5,721[49]
CyworldGeneral. Popular in South Korea.199924,000,000[50]Open1,616[51]
DailyBoothPhoto-blogging site where users upload a photo every day13 February 2009Closed5,963[52]
DailyStrengthMedical & emotional support community - Physical health, Mental health, Support groups4 November 2007Open10,511[53]
deliciousSocial bookmarking allowing users to locate and save websites that match their own interestsSeptember 20038,822,921[54]Open436[55]
deviantARTArt community7 August 200022,000,000[56]Open to people 13 and older131[57]
Diaspora*Decentralized, privacy aware, general (open source)November 2010370,000+[n 1][58]Open36,792[n 2][59]
DisaboomPeople with disabilities (Amputee, cerebral palsy, MS, and other disabilities)Open218,135[60]
Dol2dayPolitic community, Social network, Internet radio (German-speaking countries)40,200[61]Open385,237[62]
DontStayInClubbing (primarily UK)Open86,535[63]
Draugiem.lvGeneral (primarily LV, LT, HU)2,600,466[64]Invitation only2,698[65]
doubanChinese Web 2.0 website providing user review and recommendation services for movies, books, and music.200546,850,000[66]Open106[67]
DXY.cnChinese online community for physicians, health care professionals, pharmacies and facilities2000[68]2,000,000[69]Open8,367[70]
ElftownCommunity and wiki around Fantasy and sci-fi.185,000[71]Open, approval needed43,277[72]
ElixioBusiness executives jet set and global elite.July 200780,000[73]Invite-only545,268[74]
English, baby!Students and teachers of English as a second language20001,600,000[75]Open29,585[76]
EpernicusFor research scientistsOpen798,086[77]
Eons.comFor baby boomers and mature internet users age 40 and beyond.Open to people age 40 years and older73,767[78]
eToroSocial Investing, FinanceMay 20072,500,000Open1,591[79]
Experience ProjectLife experiencesOpen2,658[80]
ExplorooTravel Social Networking.Open163,545[81]
FacebookGeneral: Photos, Videos, Blogs, Apps.February 20041,000,000,000[82]Open to people 13 and older2[83]
FacepartyGeneral. Popular UK.200,000[84]Invitation only to people 18 and older163,639[85]
Faces.comAdult Social Network, Mainly UK & USA2011700,000[86]Open to people 18 and older worldwide149,839[87]
FetlifePeople who are into BDSMJanuary 20081,200,000[88]Open to people "of legal age to see adult content"4,131[89]
FilmAffinityMovies and TV Series2002250,000[90]Open3,151[91]
FilmowMovies and TV Series2009Open44,630[92]
FledgeWingEntrepreneural community targeted towards worldwide university studentsOpen to university students696,513[93]
FlixsterMovies200763,000,000[94]Open to people 13 and older4,012[95]
FlickrPhoto sharing, commenting, photography related networking, worldwideFebruary 200432,000,000[96]Open to people 13 and older (Yahoo! Login)48[97]
Focus.comBusiness to Business, worldwide2005850,000[98]Open to people 13 and older12,114[99]
FotkiPhoto sharing, video hosting, photo contests, journals, forums, flexible privacy protection, friend's feed, audio comments and unlimited custom design integration.October 19981,632,565Open8,011[100]
FotologPhotoblogging. Popular in South America and Spain200220,000,000[101]Open3,168[102]
FoursquareLocation based mobile social network200920,000,000[103]Open817[104]
FriendicaDistributed, federated, privacy aware, open source, generalOpen354,946[105][n 2]
Friends ReunitedUK based. School, college, work, sport and streetsJuly 200019,000,000[106]Open to people 13 and older29,239[107]
FriendsterGeneral. Popular in Southeast Asia. No longer popular in the western world200290,000,000[108]Open to people 16 and older.12,167[109]
FrühstückstreffGeneralJuly 200114,800[citation needed]Open1,827,621[110]
Fubardating, an "online bar" for 18 and olderOctober 20071,200,000[111]Open to people 18+10,453[112]
FuelmyblogBlogging communityJuly 200750,000[113]Open85,547[114]
FullCircleGeosocial networking and location-based services portal for mobile devicesApril 2009Open1,167,425[115]
Gaia OnlineAnime and games. Popular in USA, Canada and Europe. Moderately popular around Asia.23,523,663[116]Open to people 13 and older6,277[117]
GamerDNAComputer and video games21 September 2006310,000[118]Open59,730[119]
Gapyear.comTravel social networkJuly 1998Open74,763[120]
Gather.comArticle, picture, and video sharing, as well as group discussions465,000[121]Open3,062[122]
Gays.comSocial network for LGBT community, Guide for LGBT bars, restaurants, clubs, shopping16 May 2008100,000[123]Open, Global224,302[124]
Geni.comFamilies, genealogy16 January 200715,000,000[125]Open5,958[126]
GetGlueSocial network for entertainment28 October 20082,000,000[127]Open3,735[128]
GogoyokoFair play in Music - Social networking site for musicians and music loversInvite only while in beta145,552[129]
GoodreadsLibrary cataloging, book loversDecember 200613,000,000[130]Open327[131]
GoodwizzSocial network with matchmaking and personality games to find new contacts. Global, based in France.October 2010110,000[132][133]Open597,008[134]
Google+General28 June 2011500,000,000[135]Open to people 13 and older[136]NA[n 3]
GovLoopFor people in and around government138,576[137]
Grono.netPoland2,000,000[citation needed]Open395,036[138]
HabboGeneral for teens. Over 31 communities worldwide. Chat room and user profiles.August 2000268,000,000[139][140][141]Open to people 13 and older15,255[142]
hi5General. Popular in NepalMongoliaThailandRomaniaJamaicaCentral AfricaPortugal andLatin America. Not very popular in the USA.200380,000,000[143]Open to people 13 and older.902[144]
Hospitality ClubHospitality328,629[145]Open99,562[146]
HotlistGeo-Social Aggregator rooted in the concept of knowing where users' friends are, were, and will be.80,000[147]Open155,811[148]
HR.comSocial networking site for Human Resources professionals1999194,000[149]Open79,591[150]
Hub CultureGlobal influencers focused on worth creationNovember 200220,000[151]Invite-only152,756[152]
HyvesGeneral, mostly popular in the Netherlands.September 200410,097,000[153]Open2,243[154]
IbiboTalent based social networking site that allows to promote one's self and also discover new talent. Most popular in India.3,500,000[155]Open1,143[156]
Identi.caTwitter-like service popular with hackers and software freedom advocates.395,695[citation needed]Open7,290[157]
Indaba MusicOnline collaboration for musicians, remix contests, and networking.350,000[158]Open, Global45,039[159]
IRC-GalleriaFinland505,000[160]Open to Finnish speaking people 12 and older36,982[161]
italki.comLanguage learning social network. 100+ languages.500,000[162]Open, Global18,956[163]
ItsmyMobile community worldwide, blogging, friends, personal TV-shows2,500,000[164]770,100[165]
iWiWHungary14 April 20024,000,000[166]Invite-only3,831[167]
JaikuGeneral. Microblogging. Owned by GoogleFebruary 2006Open to people 13 and older62,910[168]
JiepangLocation based mobile social network. In Chinese language20103,000,000[169]Open14,790[170]
Kaixin001General. In Simplified Chinese; caters for mainland China usersOpen to the General Public284[171]
KiwiboxGeneral.19992,400,000[172]Open to people 13 and older104,563[173]
LafangoTalent-Focused media sharing siteOpen, Global161,778[174]
LaiBhaariMarathi social networking2010250,000Open952,782[175]
Last.fmMusic200230,000,000[176]Open772[177]
LibraryThingBook lovers29 August 20051,300,000[178]Open to people 13 and older10,800[179]
LifeknotShared interests, hobbiesOpen to people 18 and older1,071,686[180]
LinkedInBusiness and professional networkingMay 2003200,000,000[181]Open to people 18 and older12[182]
LinkExpatsSocial networking website for expatriates. 100+ countries.Open, Global800,451[183]
ListographyLists. AutobiographyOpen92,525[184]
LiveJournalBlogging. Popular in Russia and among the Russian-speaking diaspora abroad.15 April 199917,564,977[185]Open (OpenID)115[186]
LivemochaOnline language learning5,000,000[187]Open4,100[188]
MakeoutclubGeneral9 August 1999Open756,300[189]
MEETinGeneralOpen318,979[190]
Meetup (website)General. Used to plan offline meetings for people interested in various activitiesOpen to people 18 and older481[191]
MeetthebossBusiness and Finance community, worldwide.Open315,513[192]
MillatFacebookGeneral, Created in Response to Facebook [193]May 2010461,200[194]Open236,663[195]
mixiJapan25 October 200024,323,160[196]Open232[197]
MocoSpacemobile community, worldwide20053,000,000[198]Open to people 14 and older9,882[199]
MOGMusicOpen to people 14 and older13,955[200]
MouthShut.comSocial Network, social media, consumer reviewsOpen3,340[201]
MubiAuteur cinema200,000Open18,225[202]
MyHeritagefamily-oriented social network service30,000,000 [203]Open3,756[204]
MyLifeLocating friends and family, keeping in touch (formerly Reunion.com)51,000,000[205]Open1,765[206]
My OperaBlogging, mobile blogging, photo sharing, connecting with friends, Opera Link and Opera Unite. Global7,300,000[207]OpenNA[n 3]
MyspaceGeneralAugust 200330,000,000+[208][209]Open to ages 13 and older.161[210]
Nasza-klasa.plSchool, college and friends. Popular in Poland11,000,000[211]Open75,145[212]
NetlogGeneral. Popular in Europe, Turkey, the Arab World and Canada's Québec province. Formerly known as Facebox and Redbox.[213]95,000,000[214]Open to people 13 and older545[215]
NexopiaCanada1,400,000[216]Open to people 13 and older[217]25,241[218]
NGO PostNon-Profit news sharing and networking, mainly in India15,000[219]Open42,076[220]
NingUsers create their own social websites and social networks2005 (Networks 2007)Open to people 13 and older378[221]
OdnoklassnikiConnect with old classmates. Popular in Russia and former Soviet republics45,000,000[222]Open65[223]
Open DiaryFirst online blogging community, founded in 199819985,000,000[224]Open to people 13 and older28,134[225]
OrkutGeneral. Owned by Google Inc. Popular in India and Brazil.[226]22 January 2004100,000,000[227]Open to people 18 and older, (Google login)319[228]
OUTeverywhereGay/LGBTQ CommunityOpen445,440[229]
PatientsLikeMeOnline community for patients with life-changing illnesses to find other patients like them, share their data with others, and learn more about their condition to improve their outcome.2006109,587[230]Open to people 13 years and up69,514[231]
PartyflockDutch virtual community for people interested in house music and other electronic dance music10 November 2001321,125Open to people 18 years and up16,828[232]
PingstaCollaborative platform for the world's Internetwork ExpertsInvite-only, only Internet Experts2,533,640[233]
PinterestOnline pinboard for organizing and sharing things you love2011Open38[234]
PlaxoAggregator50,000,000[235]Open5,310[236]
PlayfireComputer and video gamesOpen to people 13 and older38,259[237]
Playlist.comGeneral, MusicOpen to people over 138,026[238]
PlurkMicro-blogging, RSS, updates. Very popular in TaiwanOpen1,991[239]
QapacityA a business-oriented social networking site and a business directoryClosed20,640[240]
QuechupGeneral, friendship, dating2007Open to those over 1682,914[241]
QzoneGeneral. In Simplified Chinese; caters for mainland China users480,000,000[242][243]Open to the general publicNA[n 3]
RaptrVideo gamesOpen25,664[244]
RavelryKnitting and crochet3,000,000[245]Open2,334[246]
RenrenSignificant site in China. Was known as 校内 (Xiaonei) until August 2009.160,000,000[247]Open95[248]
ReverbNation.comSocial network for musician and bands500,000[249]Open to people 16 and older1,806[250]
RyzeBusiness500,000[251]Closed71,324[252]
ScienceStageScience-oriented multimedia platform and network for scientistsOpen61,668[253]
ShareTheMusicMusic Community. Sharing and listening to music for free and legallyOpen612,429[254]
ShelfariBooks11 October 2006Open18,152[255]
Sina WeiboSocial microblogging site in Mainland China.14 August 2009300,000,000[256]Open28[257]
SkoobCollaborative social network for Brazilian readers2009420,000[258]Open28,449[259]
SkyrockSocial Network in French-speaking world22,000,000[260]Open710[261]
SocialVibeSocial Network for Charity435,000[citation needed]Open101,364[262]
Sonico.comGeneral. Popular in Latin America and Spanish and Portuguese speaking regions.50,000,000[263][264]Open to people 13 and older2,676[265]
SoundCloudRepository of original music pieces and networking.10,000,000[266]Open299[267]
SpacesRussian Social Network targeted to mobile phone usersOpen9,953[268]
StickamLive video streaming and chat.9,000,000[269]Closed9,201[270]
StudiVZUniversity students, mostly in the German-speaking countries. School students and those out of education sign up via its partner sites schülerVZ and meinVZ.17,000,000[271]Open7,080[272]
Students Circle NetworkA Social Network connecting students, teachers and institutions to course resources, study groups and learning spaces.December 2010Open345,110[273]
StumbleUponStumble through websites that match users' selected interests20,000,000[274]Open146[275]
TaggedGeneral.October 2004100,000,000[276]Open288[277]
TalkbiznowBusiness networkingOpen136,346[278]
TaltopiaOnline artistic communityOpen281,501[279]
Taringa!General (primarily Argentina)11,000,000[280]Open to people 13 and older214[281]
TeachStreetEducation / Learning / Teaching - More than 400 subjectsOpen422,704[282]
TermWikiLearning / Languages / Translation - 1.2m terms in more than 1300 subjectsMay 2010Open22,997[283]
The SphereA Private Online Social Luxury Network with Exclusive Personalized ServicesDecember 20081,300[284]Invite-only1,115,305[285]
TravBuddy.comTravel20051,588,000[286]Open to people 18 and older21,523[287]
TravellerspointTravel2002310,000[288]Open15,275[289]
tribe.netGeneralOpen8,081[290]
Trombi.comFrench subsidiary of Classmates.com4,400,000[291]16,227[292]
TuentiSpanish-based university and High School social network.12,000,000[293]Invite-only1,083[294]
TumblrMicroblogging platform and Social Networking Website.15,940[295]Open32[296]
TwitterGeneral. Micro-blogging, RSS, updates15 July 2006500,000,000[297]Open to all ages[298]8[299]
TyltedMobile social game network[300]20073,000,000[301]Open to people 14 and older737,508[302]
VkontakteGeneral, including music upload, listening and search. Popular in Russia and former Soviet republics.September 2006123,612,100[303]Open38[304]
Vampirefreaks.comGothic and industrial subculture19991,931,049[305]Open to users 13 and over21,052[306]
ViadeoGlobal Social Networking and Campus Networking available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese35,000,000[307]Open435[308]
VirbSocial network that focuses heavily on artists, including musicians and photographers2007Open33,371[309]
VoxBloggingOpen56,558[310]
WattpadFor readers and authors to interact & e-book sharingOpen7,036[311]
WAYNTravel and lifestyleMay 200310,000,000[312]Open to people 18 and older1,367[313]
WeeWorldTeenagers - 10 to 1730,000,000[314]Open to ages 13 and older.18,317[315]
WellwerCommunity without borders, where sharing is everything.September 2011Open to people 13 years and older370,755[316]
WeOurFamilyGeneral with emphasis on privacy and securityOpen, subscription-based3,359,241[317]
Wepolls.comSocial polling networkOpen1,204,376[318]
Wer-kennt-wenGeneralGeneral2,147[319]
weReadBooksJune 20074,000,000[citation needed]Open305,720[320]
Wiser.orgOnline community space for the social justice and environmental movement[321]April 200771,600[322]Open to people 16 and older239,901[323]
WooxieBlogging and micro-bloggingOpen111,538[324]
WriteAPrisoner.comSite networking inmates, friends, familySeptember 200066,000[325]Open to people 18 years and older228,915[326]
XangaBlogs and "metro" areasUnknown27,000,000[327]Open3,943[328]
XINGBusiness (primarily Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland))11,100,000[329]Open270[330]
Xt3Catholic social networking, created for World Youth Day 2008Open712,292[331]
YammerSocial networking for office colleagues2008Must have company email3,622[332]
Yelp, Inc.Local Business Review and TalkOpen186[333]
Zoo.grGreek Web Meeting point2004890,000[334]Open34,577[335]
ZooppaOnline Community for Creative Talent (host of brand sponsored advertising contests)60,000[336]Open to people 14 and older[337]36,373[338








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