What Is a Social Networking Service (SNS)?

A social networking service (SNS) is an online vehicle for connecting and communicating with other people who share an interest, a background, or an existing relationship. Social networking service users create a profile of themselves with personal information and photos and build connections through sharing, emailing, instant meꦑssaging, and commenting.

Understanding Social Networking Services (SNSs)

As noted above, a social networking service is an online platform. It allows individuals to create profiles, share content, and interact with others. Social networking services may also be referred to as social networks. Some of the most c🍷ommonly used SNSs include Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).🍎

Social networking services work by providing a forum for people to develop connections with others. Individuals can find and connect with people they already know, such as family and friends, or interact with strangers who may share similar interests with them.

The SNS business model is typically based on 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:online advertising, often through targeted ads that make use of an individual's personal information, search habits, location, or other kinds of data. Alternatively, or in addition, the platform may sell users' personal information to third parties. Ubiquitous mobile technologies, such as 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:smartphones and table൩ts, have sped the adoption ofও SNS platforms worldwide.

SNS Characteristics and Advantages

While social networking services can take a variety of forms, they share several characteristics, such asꦦ all utilizing the internet. Other common characteristics and potential benefits include:

• They make it easy to share user-generated content, such as photos, videos, and posts that inform other users about the activities and interests of the poster.
• They provide the ability to connect with individuals from all over the world, though some platforms recommend that individuals know one another in real life before connecting online.
• They are free. Their business model is based on the breadth of their membership, so charging for use would be counterproductive. The possibility does remain that if a network grew large and useful enough, charging a fee might be possible. Already, some platforms, such as LinkedIn, offer paid, premium services in addition to their free ones.
• They connect people with common histories and interests, such as the schools they attended, the places they have worked, or their leisure activities.
• They can help people network more widely for business and job-hunting purposes.
• They help individuals find information, products, services, or resources that are relevant to them.

SNS Risks and Disadvantages

Some experts and individual users worry about the security of SNS profiles, as seen in the March 2018 revelations about Cambridge Analytica. The political information firm illegally harvested information from roughly 50 million profiles of users in the United States to target highly politicized content.

In addition to potential leaks of personal information, including financial and personal identification data, SNS users who are not careful about their privacy settings may find that strangers can track their movements or see information and photos they never intended to share with anyone outside of their perso♑nal circle. This is especially a concern for job seekers whose potential employers might search for their profiles as part of the hiring process.

Social networking service overuse may lead to depression and anxiety. Such services can also facilitate bullying and other risks to child safety. And social networking platforms can be used to spread misinform🐓ation for political purposes.

Examples of SNSs

SixDegrees.com was the first SNS. It was started in 1997 and was soon followed by Friendster, MySpace, and Facebook. Today, there is a wide range of SNS platforms and nearly 82% of Americans had SNS profiles as of 2021.

Well-known SNS platforms include YouTube, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Snapchat, Tumblr, Pinterest, and TikTok. Facebook alone boasts more than 2.1 billion daily active users worldwide.

The Bottom Line

Social networking services allow individuals and organizations to make connections and interact with others. Users can share content, such as photos, videos, and blogs. As such, these sites offer individuals a way to meet new people and stay connected wi🌄th friends and family members. From a business point of view, they can help companies advertise and market to likely new customers while also strengthening their ties to existing ones.