Social networks allow people to connect through friendships and shared interests. Early social networks began as online communities, and later popular sites like Friendster, MySpace, and LinkedIn launched in the early 2000s. Facebook became the largest social network by the early 2009, with over 800 million users. While social networks allow people to stay connected globally, they can also enable identity theft, online harassment, and addiction if overused.

1. +
by Jose Luis
Cristian

2. +
Introduction
Social networks are social structures composed of
people, which are connected by one or more types of
relationships such as friendship, kinship, common
interests or shared knowledge.

3. +
History
Early social networking on the World Wide Web began in the
form of generalized online communities.
In 2003 social networks became popular with the invention of
sites like Friendster, MySpace, Xing and LinkedIn.

4. +
History
Attesting to the rapid increase in social networking
sites popularity, by 2005, it was reported that
MySpace was getting more page views than Google.
Facebook launched in 2004, became the largest
social networking site in the world in early 2009, and
remains largest of all social networks.

5. +
Social networks more popular in the
world
Facebook
• 800 Millon
Twitter
• 200 Millon
Linked in
• 135 Millon

6. +
Facebook users worldwide

7. +
Advantages
The best advantage of social networking sites is that these sites
allow you to keep in touch with your friends, classmates, and
relatives.
These sites allow you to send and receive messages, upload
photos, and videos.
With social networking sites, you are not bound by any geographical
and cultural differences. You get to meet and know a variety of
people whose interests are similar to your own.
You can build a network of contacts and interact with a lot of people
at the same time. As such, you can spread your thoughts and
interests to a large number of people.

8. +
Disadvantages
The most glaring disadvantage of social networking sites is the
risk of identity theft and fraud. The personal information of users
can be used by dubious people for illegal activities.
Also, many people pretend to be someone else and prepare their
online profiles with false information, so as to dupe unsuspecting
users.
Another cause of concern is cases of
online harassment and stalking. Since
the social networking sites, are very
poorly regulated so it can be a very
fertile ground for people trying to get
even with you.

9. +
Addiction to social networks
It is believed that the different
social networks have
invaded the lives of
many people of all ages, who
spend time online and
neglect the really important
things in life.
If a person spends over 5 hours connected, the pattern
has changed considerably, preferring to browse than going
out and seeing people, or staying with friends in a concrete
and tangible place. This person is then considered as an
addict and you run the risk of isolation.

10. +
Are you a Facebook addict?
Psychologists are now probing a new kind of addiction called
Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD).
According to a clinical psychologist at the University of California, Los
Angeles here are some signs that you are addicted to Facebook:
1. You lose sleep over Facebook
2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook.
3. You become obsessed with old loves or exes you reconnect
with on Facebook.
4. You ignore work in favor of Facebook.
5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in cold sweat.

11. +
Conclusions
Social networks are here to facilitate
communication between the company, enrich
our communication cultures around the world and
likewise eliminate the long distances between
family or acquaintances. Making good use of social
networks, we won’t reach the great problem
of dependence on social networks which exists today.