Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have been developed in the past decade and now boast millions of unique users. Social networking sites allow you to share photos and videos, keep in touch with friends and acquaintances, form new relationships, advertise products and services, send messages, and post information.
Some people are discovering the amazing benefits of developing their own personal social networks by using open source social network software. This software allows users to create their own smaller social network websites for connecting smaller groups of people in a more secure, intimate and private way. An open source social network is easy to set up, easy to use, and has a variety of different benefits.
What Is Open Source Social Networking?
Most large scale social networks are huge websites that are managed by enormous corporations. These social networks, such as Facebook and MySpace, are available for all internet users around the world to use for free. A social network of this size has both positive and negative characteristics. The positive attributes of a large social network involve accumulating a large number of virtual friends, reaching a large population with information, and limitless opportunities for connecting with new people. However, there are downsides to a large social network as well. Open source social networking is a way to counteract some of the negative qualities of a large social network.
The Benefits of an Open Source Social Network
By developing an open source social network, you can take control of your own social network and decide exactly who has access to your network and all the information that is included therein. Smaller networks of individuals such as businesses, churches, colleges and universities, high schools, neighborhoods and even extended families are making excellent use of open source social network software. These groups of people are using the software to create smaller social networking websites that are only available to members of that smaller group.
For example, a university or college that uses open source social networking can design a social network that is named after their college and that is only accessible by students or alumni of that particular college. The social network can be customized to include the school colors in its display, the school logo in its name, and a variety of pertinent information regarding important school news and information. While a smaller social network created with open source social networking software may never replace larger social networks such as Facebook or MySpace, they are excellent additions to an individual’s social networking experience. Many internet users today manage several different social networking sites such as Twitter, MySpace and Facebook. Adding another social network allows individuals to more effectively manage their relationships within a smaller community.
Smaller open source social networks are also more secure and there is less risk of unintentionally sharing personal or private information. Large scale social networking sites often require a great deal of personal information during the registration process. As you expand your personal site on these social networking websites, you add more and more personal information as you communicate with family, friends and acquaintances. While these larger social networking sites do take measures to protect that personal information, there is always a risk of exposing that information to individuals who would use it to steal your identity or hack into your other accounts. With a private open source social network, you can share information more securely. Because the virtual community is much smaller, only a few hundred members as opposed to several million, the risk of losing important information is greatly reduced.
How To Operate an Open Source Social Network
In order to create your own open source social network, you will need to download and use open source social networking software. This software can often be downloaded online for free, but the better open source social network software may require a small investment. Once this software is downloaded, you can use the software tools to create and customize your own social network site. This software often has exciting widgets and applications such as chatting, video posting, photo posting, and blogging that you can incorporate into your new open source social network. The more expensive open source social networking downloads will provide users with more options when creating their new network.