Social web Since introducing social networking sites, it has abstracted millions of user, which they use it in their daily life. Social networking has become very popular today. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the history of it, the definition, what it is, vocabulary used, and the tools social web has to offer. I will also discuss the advantage and disadvantage of using social web sites. The history of social web started with a name "six degrees of separation”, SixDegrees.com was the first social site from 1997 to 2001. It was followed in 2002 by Friendster (www.friendster.com) and then MySpace (www.myspace.com) a year later. Started by two friends, MySpace became extremely popular, and its parent company, Intermix, was acquired by News Corporation for $580 million two years after MySpace was launched. Facebook (www.facebook.com) came out in 2004 targeting college students, but when it opened to everyone, it grew exponentially to become the top social site. Two years later, Twitter was launched, and although a different approach, it created its own revolution within a short time. (Computer Desktop Encyclopedia,1981-2008). The definition of social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in the workplace, universities, and high schools, it is most popular online. Social networks often involve grouping specific individuals together. While there are a number of social networking websites that focus on particular interests, there are others that do not. The websites without a main focus are often referred to as "traditional" social networking websites and usually have open memberships. This means that anyone can become a member, no matter what their hobbies, beliefs, or views are. What is Social Web? The Social Web is a set of social relations that link people through the World Wide Web. The Social Web encompasses how websites and software are designed and developed in order to support and foster social interaction. These online social interactions range from the basis of much online activity including online shopping, education, gaming, and social network websites. The Internet opens up to unlimited and universal access. It certainly exists without borders as any sort of information such as text, audio, video or graphics can travel across the world and can go virtually in an instant to and from anyone with a device and web access. It has indeed put people in one global village. The Social Web has its pros and cons for everyone using it. Nowadays most of the world is using the internet to network on sites such as MySpace and Facebook. Billions are using Google for things such as e-mail and searching for various inquiries. These things are wonderful to use, until or unless things get out of control, for example, befriending someone who turns on you or begins to hack your networking site; or on sites such as Google, others get accounts and open accounts in your name, phishing and trying to destroy your credibility. For some, the social web becomes addictive and causes problems socially, financially, and mentally. However, the Social Web is healthy for those of us who use it in a conclusive manner.
The Social Websites such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter are connecting friends and contacts that share similar interests by the millions and the most basic techniques of both are allowing friends and contacts to comment on each other’s profiles, send private and instant messages, join groups, share pictures and thoughts,