Community & Social Networking

Most of us know that Internet communities and social networking sites are popular, but how do blogs, podcasts, wikis and companies like Digg and MySpace work? Learn more in the Social Networking section.

Topics to Explore

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Peach in the Pits: The Very Quick Rise and Fall of a Social Media App

Peach went from boom to bust in about a week. Why do some apps get hot very fast — and then go the way of Meerkat?

By Dave Roos Jan 21, 2016 Social Networking / Social Networks

Falling for Finstagram

"Finstagram" stands for "fake Instagram" but for its users, it's a chance to be authentic.

By Alia Hoyt Dec 2, 2015 Social Networking / Social Networks

Casual Dating With the Help of Artificial Intelligence

Tired of swiping left for Tinder? Fret not. AI could soon streamline your dating life.

By Jonathan Strickland Oct 26, 2015 Social Networking / Social Networks

How Twitter Periscope Works

Periscope lets you broadcast what's in front of you in real time, and interact with the people watching. Is this simply a novelty, or is it here to stay? And what are the legal ramifications?

By Bernadette Johnson Social Networking / Social Networking Information

What makes things on the Internet go viral?

Internet sensations like LOLcat and the Harlem Shake didn't happen overnight. OK, maybe they did. But what did these phenomena have in common (besides inanity)? Are there any rules for making pictures, videos or blogs go viral?

By Chris Opfer Social Networking / Social Networking Information

How Vine Works

Six seconds isn't much time to convey an idea, so why is Vine, with its microvideo social network model, so captivating?

By Nathan Chandler Social Networking / Social Networks

How Klout Works

Klout is an online service that tracks your digital, well, clout. Is it a useful tool for navigating the social networking realm or a useless toy for social media showoffs? We'll consider the pros and cons.

By Kate Kershner Social Networking / Social Networking Information

How Facebook Timeline Works

In early 2012, Facebook rolled out its new Timeline, which replaced the personal wall format that users had been accustomed to. Some love it, some hate it -- but what's the logic behind the change?

By Jacob Clifton Social Networking / Social Networking Information

5 Signs Your Facebook Post Will Land You on Failbook

Failbook is set up to showcase all the wins, fails and facepalms that haunt the spidery halls of Facebook (and other social networks). So what is a "fail," and how do you know if you're committing one?

By Jessika Toothman Social Networking / Social Networks

How Google Plus Works

Google has tried to launch social-based products before with limited success. Could Google Plus break the trend and become the next big social network?

By Jonathan Strickland Social Networking / Social Networks

How Do You Get Rid of Ads on Facebook?

Facebook is more than just a social network; it is also an advertising platform. Learn how to get rid of the ads on Facebook in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Social Networking / Social Networking Information

How do you go offline when using Facebook?

Facebook is a great way to network and contact people instantly when they are online, but sometimes you may want to remain invisible. Learn how to go offline when using Facebook in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Social Networking / Social Networking Information

How do you hide friends on Facebook?

Privacy settings on Facebook can be customized to hide certain friends. Learn how to hide friends on Facebook in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Social Networking / Social Networking Information

How do you add a blog to your Facebook page?

Use the Facebook application, Notes, to add a blog to your Facebook page. Learn how to add a blog to your Facebook page from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Social Networking / Social Networks

How do you unhide friends on Facebook?

You can change default Facebook settings to enable or block friends from sharing specific content, such as posts or pictures. Learn how to unhide friends in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors Social Networking / Social Networks

What are the parental issues with Facebook?

Think you can keep your teen safe on Facebook by simply avoiding the topic? Good luck. Get ready to talk with your child about balancing the fun of social networking with the dangers of bullies, predators and an everlasting digital footprint.

By Jennifer Sellers Social Networking / Social Networking Information

Are kids getting addicted to Facebook?

There are long-running jokes about addiction to the computer. Crackberry, anyone? But it's a very real and, possibly, very dangerous thing that shouldn't be taken lightly. Especially when children are involved. Here's how you can stay on top of it.

By Sara Elliott Social Networking / Social Networking Information

Can a parent see private chats on Facebook?

It's easy to see why parents would want to keep tabs on their kids' private chats, but it's not such an easy task to accomplish. How can you stay up to date on what your child's doing on Facebook?

By Jessika Toothman Social Networking / Social Networking Information

At what age should you let your kids on Facebook?

While Facebook stipulates kids should be at least 13 to create an account, it's not that hard for younger children find a way into the social networking site. How young is too young to be on Facebook?

By Jessika Toothman Social Networking / Social Networking Information

How Foursquare Works

Smartphones enable us to interact with the world around us in many different ways. Foursquare turns a night on the town into a great big game with real rewards.

By Jonathan Strickland Social Networking / Social Networks

How Classmates.com Works

How many of you have lost touch with an old school friend? Classmates.com was founded to help people reconnect with one another. But why is the site so restrictive?

By Jonathan Strickland Social Networking / Social Networks

How EasyNews Works

USENET has been offering Internet users the chance to talk to one another since 1979. But true USENET fans want more. What does EasyNews offer them that their ISPs don't?

By Josh Briggs Social Networking / Social Networks

How Ravelry Works

Social networking sites on the Internet have brought people with all kinds of interests together. Knitting and crocheting enthusiasts hang out on Ravelry. But what can you do on the site?

By Stephanie Crawford Social Networking / Social Networks

How Quizilla Works

One craze that's taken off across many social networking sites is the ability to create quizzes for your friends and followers. Quizilla helps you do just that.

By Stephen Cross Social Networking / Social Networks

How MiGente Works

MiGente is a social networking site with a focus on Latino culture in the United States. What services does the site offer that helps people make new friends?

By Stephanie Crawford Social Networking / Social Networks