20 Examples of Social Networks

The social networks They are virtual platforms for interaction in which people, organizations and companies with shared interests are related. For example: Facebook, Instagram.

There is a wide variety of social networks that are used for different purposes, such as exchanging information, buying and selling goods and services, entertain, debate and communicate.

Social networks arose after the invention of the Internet, in the mid-nineties. Over time, they became more complex and specialized according to their functions and content.

Social networks have great advantages, for example, they allow people to connect immediately, messages and publications reach almost all parts of the world and that users can share information and audiovisual content easily.

However, they also have disadvantages, for example, they generate the spread of false news, the dependence of some individuals and the disclosure of personal information of users.

• See also: electronic commerce

Social Media Features

Although social networks present differences, they all have certain characteristics that they share:

• virtual communication. The communication of social networks happens through different electronic devices, such as computers, tablets and cell phones, that use the Internet. Therefore, individuals can connect and interact from anywhere on the planet.
• free use. Generally, social networks are free. This allows them to have many users. However, some have a monthly or annual subscription or have some functions that must be paid for.
• real and deferred time. Social networks allow the exchange of content in real time, for example, one person can send a message instantly and another can read it instantly. But it is also possible for individuals to access the information after it has been published or submitted.
• User profiles. Users of social networks can create a profile with names, photos, avatars and personal information.
• Editing preferences. Social networks generally allow users to edit preferences in relation to what content to see, who can be their followers or contacts, among others.

Examples of social networks

1. Facebook. It was created in 2004 and has 2.9 billion users. It is a social network in which stories and publications with videos, images and texts are shared and in which users can comment on the content of others.
2. Twitter. It was created in 2006 and has 229 million users. It is a social network in which texts of up to 280 characters are mainly shared and in which users can comment and share the publications of others.
3. LinkedIn. It was created in 2002 and has 700 million users. It is a social network that mainly seeks to create labor and commercial relationships. For this reason, people and companies have profiles in which they refer to their work and commercial activities.
4. tik tok. It was created in 2016 and has 655 million users. It is a social network in which short videos with very diverse content are mainly shared.
5. WhatsApp. It was created in 2009 and has more than 2 billion users. It is a social network in which audio and text messages, images, videos, documents, among others, are sent.
6. instagram. It was created in 2010 and has 1.270 million users. It is a social network in which photos and videos with short texts are mainly shared, and which is widely used by people and companies.
7. myspace. It was created in 2003 and has 32 million users. Before Facebook existed, it was a very popular social network where users shared songs and video clips.
8. friendster. It was created in 2003 and in 2011 it had 115 million users. It is a social network that used to be used to share photos and videos and now works as an online gaming platform.
9. pinterest. It was created in 2010 and has 442 million users. It is a social network in which images are shared.
10. twitch. It was created in 2011 and has 140 million users. It is a social network in which live videos are broadcast.

1. wechat. It was created in 2011 and has 1,263 million users. It is a social network that is used to send messages, make calls, share photos and videos, among others.
2. musical.ly. It was created in 2018 and had 200 million users. It was a social network that later merged with Tik Tok and ceased to exist. Short videos were shared on this platform.
3. Snapchat. It was created in 2011 and has 300 million users. It is a social network in which text messages, photos and videos are sent.
4. skype. It was created in 2003 and has 300 million users. It is a social network that allows you to send messages and make calls and video calls.
5. Telegram. It was created in 2013 and has 700 million users. It is a social network that allows you to send messages, photos, documents and videos.
6. Google+. It was created in 2011, was active until 2019, and had 200 million users. It is a social network in which a user could create groups and choose which of them would share each publication with.
7. Reddit. It was created in 2005 and has 52 million daily users. It is a social network that shares many characteristics with the forums, since a user posts a comment and the others reply.
8. QQ. It was created in 1999 and has 617 million users. It is a social network that is used on computers and that allows you to send and receive text and audio messages, play games online, listen to music, watch movies, among others.
9. facebook messenger. It was created in 2012 and has 988 million users. It is a social network that Facebook users use to send messages, photos, videos, among others.
10. classmates. It was created in 1995 and was the first social network. Users used it to contact their old school and university classmates.

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References

• Peiro, R. (October 3, 2017). Social networks. Economipedia. Available in: Economipedia
• Ray, m. (June 10, 2022). Social network. Encyclopedia Britannica. Available in: Encyclopedia Britannica