<sod>A '''social networking service''' (also '''social networking site''' or '''SNS''') is a platform to build [[social network]]s or [[social relation]]s among people who share similar interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections. The variety of stand-alone and built-in social networking services currently available in the online space introduces challenges of definition; however, there are some common features:<ref name="SMDefinition">{{cite journal|last1=Obar|first1=Jonathan A.|last2=Wildman|first2=Steve|title=Social media definition and the governance challenge: An introduction to the special issue|journal=Telecommunications policy|date=2015|volume=39|issue=9|pages=745–750|url=http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2647377}}</ref> (1) social networking services are Web 2.0 internet-based applications,<ref name="SMDefinition" /><ref name=Kaplan>{{cite news|authors=Kaplan Andreas M., Haenlein Michael |year=2010| title= Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media|journal= Business Horizons| volume= 53| issue= 1 |page =61| doi=10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003}}</ref> (2) user-generated content (UGC) is the lifeblood of SNS organisms,<ref name="SMDefinition" /><ref name=Kaplan /> (3) users create service-specific profiles for the site or app that are designed and maintained by the SNS organization,<ref name="SMDefinition" /><ref name="boydEllison" /><ref name = Buettner2016b>{{cite conference |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.3249.2241 |title=Getting a Job via Career-oriented Social Networking Sites: The Weakness of Ties |author=Buettner, R. |year=2016 |conference=49th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences |conference-url=http://www.hicss.org |publisher=IEEE |location=Kauai, Hawaii |doi=10.13140/RG.2.1.3249.2241}}</ref> and (4) social networking services facilitate the development of online social networks by connecting a user's profile with those of other individuals and/or groups.<ref name="SMDefinition" /><ref name="boydEllison" /><ref name = Buettner2016b></ref> Most social network services are [[web-based]] and provide means for users to interact over the [[Internet]], such as [[e-mail]] and [[instant messaging]]. Social network sites are varied and they incorporate new information and communication tools such as mobile connectivity, photo/video/sharing and blogging.<ref name="Issue 1 pages 210">[[Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication]] Volume 13, Issue 1, pages 210–230, October 2007</ref> [[Online community]] services are sometimes considered a social network service, though in a broader sense, social network service usually means an individual-centered service whereas [[online community]] services are group-centered. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, pictures, posts, activities, events, and interests with people in their network.<eod>
<sod>A '''social networking service''' (also '''social networking site''' or '''SNS''') is a platform to build [[social network]]s or [[social relation]]s among people who share similar interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections. The variety of stand-alone and built-in social networking services currently available in the online space introduces challenges of definition; however, there are some common features:<ref name="SMDefinition">{{cite journal|last1=Obar|first1=Jonathan A.|last2=Wildman|first2=Steve|title=Social media definition and the governance challenge: An introduction to the special issue|journal=Telecommunications policy|date=2015|volume=39|issue=9|pages=745–750|url=http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2647377}}</ref> (1) social networking services are Web 2.0 internet-based applications,<ref name="SMDefinition" /><ref name=Kaplan>{{cite news|authors=Kaplan Andreas M., Haenlein Michael |year=2010| title= Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media|journal= Business Horizons| volume= 53| issue= 1 |page =61| doi=10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003}}</ref> (2) user-generated content (UGC) is the lifeblood of SNS organisms,<ref name="SMDefinition" /><ref name=Kaplan /> (3) users create service-specific profiles for the site or app that are designed and maintained by the SNS organization,<ref name="SMDefinition" /><ref name="SNS-Def" /><ref name = Buettner2016b>{{cite conference |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.3249.2241 |title=Getting a Job via Career-oriented Social Networking Sites: The Weakness of Ties |author=Buettner, R. |year=2016 |conference=49th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences |conference-url=http://www.hicss.org |publisher=IEEE |location=Kauai, Hawaii |doi=10.13140/RG.2.1.3249.2241}}</ref> and (4) social networking services facilitate the development of online social networks by connecting a user's profile with those of other individuals and/or groups.<ref name="SMDefinition" /><ref name="SNS-Def" /><ref name = Buettner2016b></ref> Most social network services are [[web-based]] and provide means for users to interact over the [[Internet]], such as [[e-mail]] and [[instant messaging]]. Social network sites are varied and they incorporate new information and communication tools such as mobile connectivity, photo/video/sharing and blogging.<ref name="Issue 1 pages 210">[[Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication]] Volume 13, Issue 1, pages 210–230, October 2007</ref> [[Online community]] services are sometimes considered a social network service, though in a broader sense, social network service usually means an individual-centered service whereas [[online community]] services are group-centered. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, pictures, posts, activities, events, and interests with people in their network.<eod>