social networking information library

Social networking information improves the way you use the web. By learning about the different social networks, you'll be able to use the ones most suited for your tastes.

Featured Article: How did a programmer find sex offenders on MySpace?

When MySpace claimed there was no way to patrol its own profiles for sexual predators, Wired News editor and former hacker Kevin Poulsen took it as a challenge. See more »

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5 Events Guaranteed to Crash Twitter

When a bunch of Twitter geeks get excited about the same thing at the same time, their chatter can crash the whole Web site. And that's when the dreaded Fail Whale appears.

Are people more honest or dishonest on social networks?

The Internet's a good place to project a false image of yourself. It's also a good place to message out your truest innermost thoughts as if no one is listening. Which happens more on social networking sites?

Are social networking sites addictive?

Web sites like Facebook and Twitter are designed to keep reeling users back into their realms. And it works. How bad are our addictions to these online social scenes?

Are social networks good for job productivity?

At 9:30 a.m., your friend updated her Facebook status with, "got the job!" which triggered five thumbs ups and a "w00t!" Does the fact that you know this make you a distracted or productive employee?

Are there cliques on social networking Web sites?

It's not exactly your high school cafeteria. But, yes, cliques do pervade cyberspace. Is there a cool group within your network of online friends?

Are you too old for social networking?

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. If that's true, then how is online social networking bleeding into the baby boomer generation?

Can Facebook make me rich?

Can Facebook get you $10 million? It can if you're a software developer who's generous with his ideas. The fbFund is offering grants to creative developers, but how do you get one? And if you're not a developer, how else can you make money on the Web

Do social networking sites improve your ability to network in real life?

How many of your Facebook friends and Twitter followers would you invite to your birthday party or wedding, or call for a ride when your car breaks down? Are these online connections any good to you in real life?

How Blogs Work

Blogs serve as online journals and communities, often linking to news stories and other sites. Learn the basics of blogging, explore the blogosphere and find out how to create your own.

How Chat Rooms Work

Chat rooms give us the chance to discuss anything and everything with people around the world. How do you get started, and what do you need to watch out for?

How did a programmer find sex offenders on MySpace?

When MySpace claimed there was no way to patrol its own profiles for sexual predators, Wired News editor and former hacker Kevin Poulsen took it as a challenge.

How do social networking sites make money?

Millions of people are using social networking sites to meet others, play games and find jobs. But if all these sites are free, how do they pay the bills?

How much time do we spend on MySpace at work?

A study suggests that some businesses are losing $260 million a day from employees on MySpace and Facebook. Should companies block social networking sites altogether?

How Newsgroups Work

Social networking and e-commerce may be all the rage, but many internet pioneers originally used the Internet for sharing ideas among large groups of people. Newsgroups were fundamental to early internet communication, and they're still good sources of information today.