A social networking site is a website where individuals can set up an online profile, describing his/her interests, and add links to other profiles. Generally, users are able to post personal information, including photographs, videos, and blog entries. One such site, MySpace, has been extremely popular both with individuals and with music groups, who can post their songs on their profile pages and advertise their tour dates. Many bands will attempt to solicit as many "friends" as possible on these sites, so that more people will be aware of their music.
Sites for social networking are popular with people all over the world, particularly teenagers and people in their 20s. Because it is so popular with teenagers, some people are concerned that teenagers and kids who post personal information on these sites are at risk of being solicited by pedophiles. As a result, some sites have taken precautions to monitor the information provided by underage patrons; however, there is no way to enforce proof of age or identity, so this issue is currently unresolved.
Social networking sites can be a great way to stay in touch with a large group of people. If you have news you'd like to share with everyone you know, you can simply post it on your own personal bulletin board, and it will be distributed to everyone on your friends list. These sites can also be helpful for connecting with new people, whether on a business, friendship, or a romantic level.
On some social networking sites, you can only make a connection with someone who is already linked to people that you have claimed as friends. On others, it is possible to contact anyone you like. However, some people claim to make their profiles private, and available only to people they select as their friends. This can be a wise decision, particularly if you have information available on a site that you would not want the general public, such as a family member or an employer, to see.