Social networking sites allow users to connect with others who share interests and activities. They facilitate building social networks by allowing users to create profiles, link to friends, and interact through messaging, sharing content, and participating in groups. While social media can help make connections and promote businesses, it also takes time and opens the possibility of negative publicity or fake users. The document traces the history of social networking from early bulletin board systems and chat platforms to modern sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. It also outlines the user requirements, tools, and hardware/software needs to develop a social networking site.