How do social networks “work”?

Social networks have become part of people’s daily lives. It is difficult to go on a website today without finding a link to a Facebook page you should “like” or a Twitter page you should “follow” or a YouTube channel you should “subscribe” to.

How do these social networking sites “work?” Why have users become obsessed with checking Facebook at least three times a day or having tweets sent to their mobile phone? Social networking websites help people understand what is going on in the world around them. “Facebook is made up of many networks, each based around a company, region, or school. Join the networks that reflect your real-life communities to learn more about the people who work, live, or study around you” (Westlake, 25).

Generations of people older than current college students were not brought up with social networks, texting, and instant messaging. Generation Y sees social networks as a normal, every day form of communication like messaging Facebook friends, writing on their walls, Facebook chatting or tweeting at them (26). It is rare to have a phone conversation longer than a few minutes for Generation Y.


Applications on social networks have led to users visiting the social network of their choice and getting hooked on it for hours (The Economist).For instance, Farmville is an application on Facebook that is very popular where the user must take care of a virtual farm by trading crops and watering plants. Farmville allows users to ask Facebook friends to be their neighbors and send gifts and supplies to each other. The next thing you know, it is three hours later and you have a full functioning farm.

Social networks “work” because people want to see what is going on in their friend’s lives and even in strangers lives. The term “stalk” has been linked to social networking sites because visiting sites like Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and Flickr is like stalking someone’s life in a way, especially when you are not friends with the person you are “stalking.” Aside from the curiosity of people’s lives, social networks “work” because it is an easy and convenient form of communication. Social networks have expanded to applications on mobile phones making their accessibility even easier and quicker.

I honestly have tried to remember what life was like when there was no Facebook, twitter, YouTube, or blogs. I wonder what I did with my time as it is such a part of my daily routine. There is not one specific reason why social networks “work” the way they do, but whatever it is, it’s quite effective.

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“Global swap shops: Why social networks have grown so fast—and how Facebook has become so dominant.” www.economist.com. The Economist. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.

Westlake, E.J. "Friend Me If You Facebook". The Drama Review.52:4, (2008). p. 21-31. Web.