A social network is a social structure made up of individuals or organizations that are connected by relationships like friendship, professional relationships, or kinship. These relationships are usually represented as nodes and lines connecting them. Social networking services facilitate communication between people within the same social structure over the internet. The analysis of social networks has grown from a suggestive metaphor to an analytical approach used to understand how patterns of human contact help or hinder the spread of diseases or new ideas. There are both horizontal and vertical social networking sites, with horizontal sites seeking to provide general interaction tools and vertical sites targeted at specific audiences or activities.
3. THE SOCIAL NETWORKS.
A social network is a social structure made up of a set of
actors . such as individuals or organizations that are related
according to some criterion professional relationship ,
friendship, kinship.
Usually they represented as nodes symbolizing actors and
relationships as lines connecting them . The type of
connection representable in a social network is a dyadic
interpersonal relationship or tie.
4. INTERNET PLATFORMS THAT FACILITATE
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PEOPLE OF THE
SAME SOCIAL STRUCTURE ARE CALLED SOCIAL
NETWORKING SERVICES.
THE ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL NETWORKS HAS
GROWN FROM A SUGGESTIVE METAPHOR TO
BECOME AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH AND A
PARADIGM , WITH ITS THEORETICAL
PRINCIPLES , METHODS OF ANALYSIS
SOFTWARE FOR SOCIAL NETWORKS AND LINES
OF RESEARCH THEMSELVES.
5. RESEARCH ON THE NETWORKS.
The social network analysis has been used in
epidemiology to help understand how patterns of human
contact help or hinder the spread of diseases such as
HIV in a population. The evolution of social networks can
sometimes be simulated by the use of agent-based
models , providing insight into the interplay between
communication rules , rumor spreading and social
structure .
The diffusion of innovations theory explores social
networks and their role in influencing the spread of new
ideas and practices. The change agents and opinion
leader often have a greater role in encouraging the
adoption of innovations , although it also involves factors
inherent to innovation role .
6. Computer tools to enhance the effectiveness of online social
networks ( ' social software ') , operating in three areas , «las 3
Cs» , crosswise:
•Communication ( help us to share knowledge ) .
•Community (help us find and integrate communities).
•Cooperation ( help us to do things together ).
The combined networking (blended networking) It is an
approach to social network that combines elements online and
real world to create a mixture.
7. TYPOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES.
There is no consensus among authors in proposing a
specific type. In some places the same type that once was
used for portals applies , divide them into horizontal and
vertical :
•Horizontal: seek to provide tools for interaction in
general: Facebook, Google+, Hi5, ello o Bebo.
•Vertical:
•By type of user; aimed at a specific audience.
Professional ( LinkedIn) , people who share the same
hobby , interested in a product or service.
•By type of activity ; those who promote a particular
activity. Videos YouTube, Microbloggin Twitter, opinions
about products or services.