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.

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BlackPlanet.com was launched amid a crowded sea of overhyped Internet startups, but it didn't take long to establish itself as the premier social networking site for African-Americans. You can even drop the President a line if you like.

By Josh Clark

People talk about Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, but those are only a few of the social networking sites on the Web. What makes a social networking site?

By Ed Grabianowski

Still on the fence about joining the social networking revolution? We might be able to help you figure out which side you'd rather come down on.

By Jonathan Strickland

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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?

By Jonathan Strickland

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?

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?

By Debra Ronca

People share embarrassing information online for a variety of reasons -- narcissism, naivitity, just because everyone else is doing it -- but the fact remains that people from all walks of life reveal too much on the Internet.

By Victoria Vogt

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Good news. It may not mean that you're a big loser and nobody likes you. What else could affect your chances of gaining and keeping contacts on Web sites like Twitter and Facebook?

By Amy Hunter

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?

By Charles W. Bryant

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?

By Sarah Winkler

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?

By Debra Ronca

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If you're looking to waste some time while you're at work or school, Facebook has a game to help you with that endeavor. Which is your favorite? Poker? Scrabble? Mafia Wars?

By Debra Ronca

Shopaholics, crocheters and music addicts meet up at these online spots to discuss their hobbies with other equally obsessed junkies. What are the five most intriguing niche networks?

By Debra Ronca

If your Facebook status update reads, "Leaving for France!" you're not just gloating about your trip. You're letting everyone know that your house will be empty for about 10 days. Bad idea.

By Charles W. Bryant

When fake Christopher Walken tweets, "The neighbor's cat is back at the window looking in at me," followers snicker. But do the real celebs think this charade is funny?

By Charles W. Bryant

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Do you sometimes wonder who's behind all those witty tweets and tinyurls? It might be nice to finally connect a username with a face. And that, my friend, is the beauty of the tweetup.

By Amy Hunter

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?

By Debra Ronca

If you're really popular on Twitter -- and of course you are -- you may have trouble managing all your followers effectively. Which Twitter add-ons can help you out?

By Debra Ronca

Some people are just too busy to do their own tweeting. So they have someone else do it for them. What famous people's tweets aren't coming straight from the horse's mouth?

By Charles W. Bryant

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

By Chris Obenschain

Digital photography has made it inexpensive and fun for people to document their lives. How does Photobucket store and show so many photos and videos?

By Jonathan Strickland

Have you ever stumbled upon a cool Web site and shared it with your friends? StumbleUpon.com is an online social network that allows you to do just that with millions of users.

By Jessika Toothman

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?

By Dave Roos

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The online social network Friendster connects you to your friends and your friends of friends. Can Friendster help you to find a job or to reconnect with that special someone?

By Leah Lerner

If you've got something you can say in just a few characters, you can reach lots of people with a single Tweet. How has Twitter changed social networking?

By Jonathan Strickland & Nathan Chandler