What is online social networks?

1. How Facebook uses machine learning to detect fake accounts

2. How Online Social Networks Work

3. What is Online Social Network

4. Detecting Suspicious Accounts in Online Social Networks

5. Pros of Social Networking

What is Online Social Network

An online service or site to facilitate social interaction to help individuals find others of a common interest, establish a forum for discussion, and exchange information.

An online social network (OSN) is a social structure made of individuals (or organizations) that can be called as “nodes”, and the links that are the different types of relationships/interdependency, established between nodes. In fact, a social network is based on two parameters: nodes and links. The
nodes define the content of the relationships (links) according to their theme/interest/attendance (e.g. trade financial, friends,kinship, dislike, trade, sexual relations, disease transmission (epidemiology)). An important attribute of a link is the type of information exchange/communication technology (e.g. using mobile equipment). Today social networks use web-based services, so the type of communication can modify the behaviour of nodes, the communication habits of OSN users.

Learn more in: Role of Privacy and Trust in Mobile Business Social Networks

How Online Social Networks Work

Several features of online social networks are common to each of the more than 300 social networking sites currently in existence. The most basic feature is the ability to create and share a personal profile. This profile page typically includes a photo, some basic personal information (name, age, sex, location) and extra space for listing your favorite bands, books, TV shows, movies, hobbies and Web sites.

Most social networks on the Internet also let you post photos, music, videos and personal blogs on your profile page. But the most important feature of online social networks is the ability to find and make friends with other site members. These friends also appear as links on your profile page so visitors can easily browse your online friend network.

Social networking is the use of Internet-based social media sites to stay connected with friends, family, colleagues, customers, or clients. Social networking can have a social purpose, a business purpose, or both, through sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, among others. Social networking has become a significant base for marketers seeking to engage customers.