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A social network is a social structure made up of individuals (or organizations) called "nodes", which are tied
(connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest,
financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.

Social network analysis views social relationships in terms of network theory consisting of nodes and ties (also
called edges, links, or connections). Nodes are the individual actors within the networks, and ties are the
relationships between the actors. The resulting graph-based structures are often very complex. There can be
many kinds of ties between the nodes. Research in a number of academic fields has shown that social
networks operate on many levels, from families up to the level of nations, and play a critical role in determining
the way problems are solved, organizations are run, and the degree to which individuals succeed in achieving
their goals.

In its simplest form, a social network is a map of specified ties, such as friendship, between the nodes being
studied. The nodes to which an individual is thus connected are the social contacts of that individual. The
network can also be used to measure social capital Ȃ the value that an individual gets from the social network.
These concepts are often displayed in a social network diagram, where nodes are the points and ties are the
lines.

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Websites such as MySpace and Facebook encourage people to create and share their unique online identities
and profiles that may include information that is personal, pictures, blog entries, video, podcasts and music
clips. People may then share their information with other people directly and also by being able to access even
more people through the online networks of those individuals. A wonderful benefit of social networking sites
is that it creates a virtual meeting place for people today to connect and make friends.

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For a lot of us todayǯs children, teens and adults, using the Internet Ȅ and networking online Ȅ is an
important daily activity. Walk your talk. Take measures to safeguard your own online privacy and safety. Be
aware of how you use the Internet. Keep in mind: anyone who has access to your computer can most likely
look at your Web-surfing history and cookies just as easily as you can theirs.

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Social networking has grown more and more popular, especially among children and teenagers. If you are a
parent, you may wish to evaluate their social networking account and postingsȄhow do you feel about what
theyǯve posted? And if itǯs you; how about your parents, grandparents or friends?

Do not post private information, including your cell phone number, home address, class schedule, social plans,
etc. unless you are prepared for anyone to find you/track you down, any time of the day or night. Donǯt publish
anything that may be uncomfortable to you in a potential employment situation. People have been denied
work as a result of information found on social networking sites.

Utilize the DzPrivacydz settings on the social sites you join. Facebook is a good site for having more control over
who sees what.
   

 
One form of social networking that's growing in popularity is corporate social networking. You can use
corporate social networking to form relationships with other people from your company, or people in other
companies in an industry. You can also get references and build a reputation using corporate social networking
tools. It's a great way to get yourself known and network in your field or industry.

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Social networking provides a great way for you to stay in touch with people who may have moved away.
Normally, people try to stay in touch with friends via phone calls and the occasional letter or e-mail, but busy
lives make it difficult to maintain contact. However, social networking is such a regularly used medium that it's
easy to stay in touch with people even when they move away.

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One can use social networking to get feedback on ideas immediately, or to ask questions and get answers
quickly. If you're developing a product or even just an idea, you can bounce it off your friends and social
networking contacts and find out what they think about it. You can also ask questions and receive answers in
near-real-time, if your contacts know the answer or if you're a student in touch with teachers.

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Sheltered individuals may not understand how many different points of view that people have, and that it's
possible for people to hold drastically different beliefs. Social networking helps you learn about diversity and
get exposure to multiple points of view. Ultimately, this exposure can help you to learn to look at things from
different angles, and be more tolerant of other people's opinions, things that go a long way in the working
world.

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Many student organizations have specific social networks designed to help students connect. Social
networking tools can be a great way for students to get in touch with other students in the same school, or
when they're considering a college or new school. Check with student organizations to see if they have a
particular social networking tool, or type the school into your favorite social networking Web site and see what
you find.

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Mobile social networking is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people have cell phones capable
of running social networking applications. People can use mobile social networking tools to stay in touch with
friends, and make plans on the fly. Mobile social networking tools are also great if you've got a long train or
subway commute and want to stay in touch with friends and find out what they're doing.
Kids do need to learn to keep social networking under control. Some people get hooked on social networking,
to the point that it interferes with getting things done. Teach your child when it is and isn't appropriate to use
mobile social networking, and set a strict time limit for communicating at home.

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You are putting out information about your name, location, age, gender, and many other types of information
that you may not want to let others know. Most people would say be careful, but no one can be certain at any
given time. As long as people can know who you exactly are, then some can find ways to do you in.Y
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There is a potential for failure of security in both personal and business context. While many sites apply certain
measures to keep any of these cases of harassment, cyber-stalking, online scams, and identity theft to an
absolute minimum, you still may never know.Y
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If this is not your kind of thing, that it would just be a waste of time for you. The key to social networking is that
it is supposed to be fun, whether you are just doing it for kicks or clicking around for business purposes. That
should be reasonable enough for anyone, but there are those people who don't see the point. For them, it can
be a disadvantage.Y
Now there's something to really think about. Nothing is without a blemish, but those of social networking
shouldn't really be that much of a concern regarding your safety. As long as you go along without making big
mistakes, then it is all good. You can take advantage of the Internet phenomenon that continues up to this day.
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?ven here, there is lemonade to be made from the lemons of social networking. You can use a flame war as a
lesson in how to argue and debate without turning nasty. A misunderstanding can often lead to a truce. These
are the kind of skills that people need to learn in life. In weighing the advantages and disadvantages of social
networking, it's best to weigh on the side of information. After all, the lack of it has always had a devastating
effect on society.