Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites have been around since the mid-90's, but in recent years, social networking has exploded across the web. The Web 2.0 initiative has made modern social networking sites increasingly popular and easier to use than the initial wave of sites that launched in the 90's.

Last year, Facebook surged past MySpace to become the most popular social network. Flixster also gained ground, overtaking Classmates, and LinkedIn rose in popularity as more people focused on their jobs. And while Twitter is as much of a social messaging platform as a social network, it has definitely led an invasion into the top social networks over the past two years.

The top social networking websites is divided into three categories: General purpose, special interest social networks with a specific theme, and international sites.

A Guide to Social Networks
Top Social Networking Sites - General Interest

Facebook: Founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was designed as a social networking site for Harvard students. After spreading from Harvard through the university ranks and down into high school, Facebook was opened to the public in 2006. Why Facebook?
MySpace: Started in 2003, MySpace was a driving force in popularizing social networking and still maintains a large userbase. A highly customizable social network, MySpace continues to reposition itself in the industry. Create a Flashy MySpace Profile
Twitter: What started out as a microblogging website has quickly grown into a social messaging platform and one of the top social networks in the world. Twitter is phenomenon that transcends social networking to provide an outlet for news, trends, buzz, and chat among many other uses. 10 Great Uses for Twitter
Ning: A social network for creating social networks, Ning takes the idea of groups to a whole new level. The ability to create your own community makes Ning a great home away from home for organizations and groups looking to fill the social void. How to Create a Social Network on Ning